Media Molly

Movie review: Funny People (2009)

2010-09-16T23:17:00.000+03:00

George Simmons was prepared to die, but then a funny thing happened.

What it’s about:
(from IMDb)
When seasoned comedian George Simmons learns of his terminal, inoperable health condition, his desire to form a genuine friendship cause him to take a relatively green performer under his wing as his opening act.

My take on it:
I’m not sure why, but I was under the impression that this had been one hilarious comedy sensation. Maybe it was because of Adam Sandler. Or because of its title. Either way, it is in fact a movie that chronicles the life of a man suffering from a terminal illness. What?!? I know, I didn’t see that one coming either. That sounds pretty depressing, right? Well, it’s not. What Funny People is actually something quite unique – while it is far from being a flat-out comedy (a person dying is not exactly a laughing matter), it is an odd mix of laughs and drama. I might not have been laughing and gagging the whole way through (although be warned, it’s packed with some pretty crude humor), but I sure was entertained from beginning to end (a solid two and a half hours). In fact, I’d have to say that I really, really enjoyed it.

Adam Sandler plays the role of George Simmons, a man in his 40s leading a very successful professional life. He’s a well-known actor and a stand-up comedian with a large and faithful fan base. His private life however, is in shambles. He feels detached from the world, has no real friends, and constantly regrets not marrying the woman he loves. Then the results of a blood test show that a severe medical problem is about to finish him off. Devastated, he attempts to fix his broken life, hiring an aspiring young comedian, Ira Wright (played by Seth Rogen) in the process, giving him the opportunity of a lifetime.

George Simmons is actually a character that is not very likable. He is self-centered and egoistic, and constantly treats Ira like he doesn’t have any feelings. In fact, he’s pretty rude to him most of the time. Unfortunately, this is a trait that remains throughout the entire film. For a man about to die, Simmons has little character development, except at the very end, which wasn’t very satisfactory, at least for me. Ira, however, is a character that you immediately start warming to – hard-working, talented and determined to be a good friend to the dying movie star. Both Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen did some spectacular acting work in this.

Despite there being some very dramatic elements in the movie, there are also some genuinely funny moments. Like whenever Jonah Hill enters the scene. Some of his lines are like the funniest ever. There was this humorous scene where Jonah’s character convinces his roommate that his granddad went to hell (‘It’s not my fault your grandpa is playing backgammon with Hitler right now’). Towards the end, the weirdest confrontation scene ever unfolds (where Adam Sandler and Eric Bana have a tense wrestling match on the front lawn), and Leslie Mann, who plays Laura, puts on a mocking imitation of the Australian accent.

I can’t guarantee that you’ll love this, but I say it’s worth giving it a shot. Hopefully you will. :)

Rating: 4/5

Links:
Watch the trailer here.
Visit the official website here.

--or--
Learn more about this movie, or purchase from Amazon.com here.

On-topic Post: Book Blogger Hop! (Round 11!)

2010-09-10T08:06:00.000+03:00

Welcome visitors from the book blogger hop, make yourself at home! In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this is a lovely weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books!

This time, the question we've got to answer is:
Post a link to a favorite post or book review that you have written in the past three months.

And here's my answer:
Recently I wrote a blog post detailing my favorite moments of the most awesome TV series Dexter, which is one of my personal favorites. If you're interested, you can read it here. The post contains spoilers however, so for those who don't want me to spoil the great finales of the tv series, check out the right sidebar, which contains links to my reviews of the Harry Potter series. Thanks for reading!

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping! Oh, and if you're a blogger, leave a comment below and I'll return your visit as soon as I can! If you follow my blog, leave a comment and I'll follow back! It's all about the love. :)

Also, check out the right sidebar --> I'm in the middle of a Harry Potter challenge, which is to reread all seven books! I hope you'll join me on my journey. ;)

Have a great day, and thanks for visiting!

On-topic Post: A Harry Potter Update

2010-09-09T13:54:00.001+03:00

It's been a little over a month since I started the Harry Potter challenge. These books seriously become more addicting the further along you go. To be clichéd, they are like ice-cream on a swelteringly hot day (it's a warm 45°C here). Currently reading Book 6, in the middle of Chapter 23 ('Horcruxes').

I've been a bit busy in the past few days (and still am), because I've been trying to arrange and finalise my university plans. That doesn't mean I haven't been reading. In fact, reading the series after a long day is like the best way to unwind. And I'm taking things slowly and leisurely, because, as you can guess, I DON'T want it to be over (it's just too epic).

So, anyway, I thought I'd introduce you to other people that have/are also recording their HP reading experiences online. If I've missed anyone out, let me know! :)

- The Last Muggle to Read Harry Potter
From the 'About' page:

What happens when a 20-something reads the Harry Potter series for the first time, years after everyone else?

This project began in July, 2009, with a copy of The Sorcerer's Stone and a few crazy predictions about where things were going. After seven books and hundreds of reactions, overreactions, wrong predictions, and the occassional right prediction, the series is over, but the craziness has just begun.

This blogger writes lively and entertaining articles about the books as she reads. She blogs about the movies too!

- Expecto Patronum!
A detailed, analytical and very interesting take on the books as the blogger re-reads them for the first time.

- Summer at Hogwarts at Loving Books
A series of review posts and interactive discussion posts starting from Book 1 all the way to Book 7. Very fun! Start here.

- Julia at The Competitive Bibliomaniac
Julia has *just* started her Harry Potter re-read challenge, so be sure to check in and read her updates! Start here.

- Mark Reads Harry Potter
A chapter-by-chapter analysis of the books, in an unconventional style.

-And lastly, Steph at Bella's Bookshelves wrote a post about her love of Harry Potter the same day I started the challenge, both of us not knowing at first it was HP's birthday (July 31st)! Pretty eerie. Read it here.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy!

Movie review: Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)

2010-09-05T16:47:00.000+03:00

The blonde leading the blonde.

What it’s about:
(from IMDb)
Two women get into a lot of trouble when they go to their high school reunion and lie about their lives after twelfth grade.

My take on it:
We all know what high school reunions are for. To show off how cool, rich and successful you’ve become since your (awkward) schooling years. And that’s exactly what best friends Romy (Mira Sorvino) and Michele (Lisa Kudrow) plan to do when they get invited to their 10-year reunion in Tucson. Except, in 10 years, neither of them have exactly become ‘cool’, ‘rich’ or ‘successful’. In fact, they’ve lived together, have had no boyfriends, and one of them is unemployed. How then, in the span of 2 weeks, can they become popular businesswomen with successful relationships, so they can impress their classmates? Easy – act it. Pretend. But we all know how lying can lead to trouble…

No matter how many times I watch Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, it never gets old. In fact, it just gets funnier. The chemistry between Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino is great and their quirks are adorable. Almost every scene is a gem. Yes, it’s silly, and excessive, and satirical, and yes, they’re blondes, but Romy and Michele’s story makes for one of the greatest chick flicks ever. The 80s music, the ditzy outfits and the bizarre dance moves towards the end make this one memorable. That, and the bad-tempered, angry-at-life pessimist Heather Mooney, played remarkably well on-screen by Janeane Garofalo. Heather is a character that is not easily forgotten.

Random things you’ll learn from watching the movie: Who invented Post-Its? What’s the formula for glue? What must you do if you want to snag a convertible (for free)? And if that’s not reason enough to watch this, it’s also original, hilarious, heartwarming and wildly entertaining. If it’s just feel-good fluff, then it’s clever, feel-good fluff. And did I just contradict myself? ;)

Rating: 4.5/5

Links:
Watch the trailer here.
Visit a fan site here.

--or--
Learn more about this movie, or purchase from Amazon.com here.

On-topic Post: Book Blogger Hop! (Round 10!)

2010-09-03T07:28:00.003+03:00

Welcome visitors from the book blogger hop, make yourself at home! In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this is a lovely weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books!

This time, the question we've got to answer is:
Do you judge a book by it's cover?

And here's my answer:
The honest answer? Absolutely. The cover plays a pretty important role in whether I end up buying, or learning more, about a book or not. It's like the very first impression you have of a book. Fortunately, I haven't turned off any books that sound good but have a less-than-impressive cover. But, I still like my book covers to be nice and elegant. :D

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping! Oh, and if you're a blogger, leave a comment below and I'll return your visit as soon as I can! If you follow my blog, leave a comment and I'll follow back! It's all about the love. :)

Also, check out the right sidebar --> I'm in the middle of a Harry Potter challenge, which is to reread all seven books! I hope you'll join me on my journey. ;)

Have a great day, and thanks for visiting!

Book review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5 done!)

2010-08-31T21:55:00.001+03:00

Neither can live while the other survives…

(beware - spoilers as usual)

In the longest book in the series, J. K. Rowling delves into the darker politics of the wizarding world, makes Harry Potter a bad-tempered mess (at least at the very beginning), and gives an interesting take on examinations in magical education (O.W.L.s – another play on letters and words that is truly genius).

‘that Umbridge woman’
‘Umbridge’ is another name that will just be stained forever. Because of J. K. Rowling, an odd process of conditioning has taken place in my mind – in almost every instance where Umbridge is mentioned, there is also a comparison to a toad (‘toadlike witch’, ‘her wide, toadlike mouth’, ‘old toad’, ‘her pouchy toad’s eyes’). This must be about 50 (or more) times throughout the whole novel, and it’s funny because I don’t seem to remember noticing that on my first read. But now, happily, in my eyes: the word ‘Umbridge’ = toad. If that is not reason enough to despise her, she also happens to an evil psychopath and a devil in disguise.

Rowling seems to make very accurate animal comparisons for characters throughout the series. Like in the earlier book, Rita Skeeter was a ‘cow’. And in Half-Blood Prince (which I am reading now), Snape is described as ‘an overgrown bat’, which, in my opinion, sums him up pretty nicely. :)

Wizard sayings
A collection of sayings I discovered while reading, only applicable to the wizarding world:

“Time is Galleons, little brother.” – Fred Weasley
“It’s no good crying over spilled potion.” – Mrs. Figg
“Merlin’s beard.” – Usually said by adults, when they are taken by surprise.
“Son of a bludger.” – Mundungus (clever twist on the phrase ‘son of a gun’)
“Poisonous toadstools don’t change their spots.” – Ron Weasley
“Don’t count your owls before they’re delivered.”– Albus Dumbledore (in Book 6)

Sirius’ death
‘It was as though they had just entered the house of a dying person.’

J. K. Rowling leaves behind clues and trails that are so subtle and intricate that it is wonderful unraveling them upon rereading. This particular example is found in Chapter 4 when Harry enters Grimmauld Place for the first time, foretelling the death of the owner of the house, the valiant Sirius Black, several chapters later. Sirius’ story is so, so heartbreaking and Harry’s own life becomes even more tragic because he was doomed to lose the only living guardian he had.

I read somewhere that J. K. Rowling wanted one of the biggest themes in the series to be about death, and dealing with death. She does have some very beautiful ideas about it – that it is our ‘next greatest adventure’, that Voldemort’s vulnerability lies in the fact that he fears death so much that he would do anything to keep himself alive, to sacrifice yourself to protect the one you love is the strongest shield, and so on. More concepts of death are explored in this book – we are introduced to ‘thestrals’, black, winged, reptilian horses visible only to those that have witnessed death, and the ‘veil’, the line between life and death, the voices and murmurs of the dead luring you to come over to the other side. Those are melancholic yet beautiful notions to come up with.

(Yes, I think a lot about death. :D)

To sum up
Loved the fifth book. I could read it all over again and not get worn-out. But, I’m currently in Chapter 9 of the sixth book. I’m going to be sad when this challenge is over.

Off-topic Post: The Hidden Evils of Blogger

2010-08-28T21:49:00.005+03:00

I love Blogger, but sometimes it makes simple things ridiculously complicated. Like today I wanted to create a horizontal navigation menu bar, centered, right below my header. Unfortunately, googling lead me to posts that wanted me to edit my HTML code (which looks as familiar as an alien language), something which I am hesitant to do. If it wasn't for a particular goddess named Katie, I would be tearing my hair out by now. She has this brilliant tutorial (which you can read here) that shows you how to create a menu in blogger without having to mess with your template. It's simple and functional. So if any of my fellow bloggers are crying over this, please read it, and you can literally have your menu in under two minutes.

p.s. - Sheree at Book-n-Roll presented me with the One Lovely Blog award today. Thank you so much! :D

On-topic Post: The Best Moments of Dexter (so far)

2010-08-23T21:07:00.001+03:00

Here are, off the top of my head and in no particular order, my favorite and the most memorable moments of the TV series Dexter, all the way from Season 1 to 4. All videos link to YouTube. Enjoy!

(major spoilers ahead!)

1. How Dexter steals a glance at the camera at the end of some episodes. Talk about quirky! *melts*

2. The music in every season is amazingly done. Some are unusually bright, others hauntingly beautiful and emotional.

3. In Season 1, when Dexter fears for his life when the little boy who had witnessed him in the junkyard tells the artist what he saw and it turns out to be…Jesus.

4. The British Invasion: Jaime Murray played her messed-up character Lila so well – I totally hate her now. I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to cheer when she died. Definitely one of the most satisfying moments of Dexter! (watch video)

5. “Jesus, Dexter, YOU’RE the Bay Harbor Butcher!” – Sergeant Doakes. BEST. CONFRONTATION. EVER. I will never forget that line. Does anyone else find it funny in a twisted way how Doakes ended up? A total nightmare. But, I mean, he asked for it.

6. Deb’s reaction to Dexter saying he’s going to be a father is absolutely hilarious. I finally found the whole quote in full (credit):

Deb: A baby? A mother****ing roly-poly, chubby-cheeked, sh*t machine? Are you kidding me?
Dexter: I’ve never heard it described in quite those words before, but yeah.

LOL. Another one of my favorite scenes involving Deb is in Season 2, when Dexter imagines what his sister’s response would be if he’d confessed that he was the Bay Harbor Butcher. (watch video)

7. Every moment where Dexter’s little baby was on screen. He is absolutely adorable.

8. Masuka’s one-liners are hilarious and one of the funniest characters of the show – he never fails to make me laugh when he’s on-screen. But his own laugh? Creepy. (watch video)

9. In Season 3, when Dexter realizes that Miguel was actually insincere and that the bloodied shirt he was given contained bovine blood. Then, in a fit of rage, he mentally thrashes his laboratory. (watch video)

10. The last few minutes of Season 4 finale was one of the most intense, most tragic scenes for the whole of the show, and a total, unforgettable, mesmerizing tearjerker. The music made it hauntingly beautiful. (watch video)

So what are your top Dexter moments? Anything I’ve missed out? :)

Thanks for reading!

TV series review: Dexter

2010-08-22T21:05:00.004+03:00

Dexter...takes life. Seriously.

What it's about:
Meet Dexter Morgan. Loving brother of Debrah Morgan, loyal boyfriend of Rita, and the dazzlingly charming and friendly blood-splatter analyst/donut guy at Miami Metro Police Department. All this during the day. At night, he’s also the local serial killer.

My take on it:
So…a television series about a serial killer…to watch or not to watch?

I was hesitant to watch this show. Was it going to be too gory or too bloody? Did it glorify psychopathic killers? How could you justify a serial killer as the protagonist? How could you make such a character likable, to bring the viewers in and keep them watching? Out of curiosity I started watching. By the fourth episode or so I was hooked! Dexter is one of the most entertaining shows to date, with some amazingly amazing finales, along with remarkable acting. Also arguably one of the best opening sequences I have seen, sprouting with disturbingly good innuendo and imagery. (Interested? :) Watch it here.)

And, answers to the above questions:
-Yes, at times, it has a lot of on-screen blood and violence. But so do other crime shows.
-Truthfully, it does glorify killing those who have killed. This is the code that Dexter lives by.
-Dexter slays other killers, which subsequently preserves the lives of innocent people and thus contributing to the greater good of the world.
-The answer: Michael C. Hall. Incredible. Without him I doubt anyone would care to watch the show!

Reviews of Seasons 1-4

(minor spoilers)

Season 1

Based on Jeff Lindsay’s book Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Season 1 introduced us to the wonderfully dark character of Dexter Morgan. He is an evil being with a natural tendency to kill. He looks up to the man who adopted him as a child – the only person who knew who he really was and taught him a set of rules to replace the social and emotive qualities lacking in Dexter. But there is someone else out there who is in on his secret, a fellow serial killer (deemed the Ice Truck Killer) who is intent on taunting him for some mysterious reason.

Season 2

A serial killer’s worst nightmare - the remains of Dexter’s killings are uncovered from the bottom of the ocean. Everyone is on the lookout for the ‘Bay Harbor Butcher’ a.k.a. Dexter. To make matters worse, Sergeant Doakes has a gut feeling that he is involved in these murders and begins to tail him. At the same time, Dexter meets a vivacious woman, Lila, who turns out to be just a little bit more than he bargained for. In Season 2, everything goes spiraling down for Dexter ending with one of the most riveting season finales. Will he ever be able to get out of this mess?

Season 3
Is it possible for a psychopathic serial killer to have a friend? A true friend he can trust with all his darkest secrets? That’s the question that gets answered in Season 3, when Dexter stumbles into the life of Miguel Prado, an assistant district attorney that appears to have sincere intentions. Then Dexter’s girlfriend Rita drops a bombshell - she’s pregnant. Add to that some disturbing secrets he uncovers about his dad, and you’ve got yet another sizzling season. Can Dexter hold himself together until his wedding day?

Season 4
In season 4, another equally fascinating and complex character is introduced – The Trinity Killer – played to utter perfection on screen by John Lithgow. Having a baby and a family to care for and support is difficult when you lead a double life. Dexter goes through a phase of self-exploration and what it really means to be someone like him. How close is he to being someone like the Trinity Killer, who seems to kill people in threes for no reason at all? He soon learns there is a significant story behind every evildoing. This season also contains the most shocking finale so far.

Season 5
Is just around the corner! Watch the trailer for the fifth season here!

Note: True psychopaths are not so likable and in fact cannot feel guilty like Dexter so often does. Which is why they are much more horrifying than you may think. To learn more, watch this.

Anyone else watch Dexter? What do you think of shows like this?

Also, look out for a post for my ten best Dexter moments sometime tomorrow. :)

Off-topic Post: Lovely People and Other Things

2010-08-22T16:38:00.001+03:00

Hello, all you lovely people!

So, I have a couple of things to say. First of all, the fabulous Entish from Audible Candy and Carrie from Just One More Chapter... presented me with the 'One Lovely Blog Award', which is cute beyond words. Thank you! I'm going to take this opportunity to share some really good book blogs and spread some link love. ;) Here are the people I am passing the award on to:

1. Emidy (Une Parole) - Her love for cosy mysteries, thought-provoking discussion posts and her super friendliness have won me over. :)

2. Izzy (My Words Ate Me) - I recently discovered this great blog, but the totally original title and extremely witty posts have made me fall in love with it!

3. Toni (Nowhere Fast) - Toni's got a lovely personality and a great variety of delightfully written posts - which makes up for an ah-dorable blog. :)

I had my IELTS exam yesterday, which went well, and now the only thing I've got left to do is the speaking test, which will be held this Friday. And to all those who sat their A-levels last June know we got our dreaded results on the 19th - but I'm pretty pleased with mine! I'm so glad all the hard work paid off - and that I'm done with school. :)

This week's activities almost brought my reading to a standstill. I'm about halfway through Order of the Phoenix - actually at the point Harry kisses Cho for the first time. His post-kiss dream is pretty funny. It'll take me at least two more days to finish, so in the meantime, I'm planning on posting these Dexter review posts I'd written back in July. That's right, Dexter - your favorite serial killer. ;)

Keep smiling!

p.s. - Sorry for the totally unrelated picture at the top, but I couldn't resist. It was one of the first pictures that popped up when I keyed in 'lovely' at deviantart.com. Pretty romantic, no? As usual, clicking on it will direct you to its source.

On-topic Post: Book Blogger Hop! (Round 9!)

2010-08-20T07:34:00.002+03:00

Welcome visitors from the book blogger hop, make yourself at home! In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this is a lovely weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books!

This time, the question we've got to answer is:
How many blogs do you follow?

And here's my answer:
Every day, it seems like I discover a wonderful new blog that I can't resist following. I quick count shows I follow about 101 blogs. But don't hold on to that number too much - it's about to increase!

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping! Oh, and if you're a blogger, leave a comment below and I'll return your visit as soon as I can! If you follow my blog, leave a comment and I'll follow back! It's all about the love. :)

Also, check out the right sidebar --> I'm in the middle of a Harry Potter challenge, which is to reread all seven books! I hope you'll join me on my journey. ;)

Have a great day, and thanks for visiting!

Book review: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4 done!)

2010-08-15T15:49:00.014+03:00

“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” – Albus Dumbledore, Chapter 37

(Beware - spoilers!)

This is the point at which the books start getting noticeably larger and darker. To keep up with the size of the book, J. K. Rowling steps things up a notch – an elaborate strategy is constructed to not only provide enough action and suspense to sustain the length of the novel, but also to add to the overall series and keep it going.

Voldemort plays a game
Yes, he stole Jigsaw’s tactics. :D

Anyway, of course the whole expanse of the Triwizard Tournament was not just for the reader’s momentary enjoyment. Even though I did enjoy guessing what the next tasks would be and how Harry would be able to get through alive. All the while, he had been playing a very dangerous game with Harry. A game that involved a frightening twist of hide-and-seek, and snakes but not ladders. Harry does seem to have suspiciously narrow escapes throughout the tournament tasks, but everything is explained in the end, how Dobby happens to conveniently give him gillyweed in the last minute and the rest. The underwater challenge was my favorite; I loved how Rowling depicted the merpeople (And wasn't it sweet that the thing Harry would miss the most was Ron?). That, and the way she logically explained how the Goblet of Fire was tricked into spitting out a fourth champion. It makes sense. :)

‘Remember Cedric Diggory.’
The torture scenes and the death of Cedric are the darkest points in the book. The first death of a fairly major character indicated that the series was about to get a lot more emotional and terrifying. Cedric’s last moments alive are his best – he decides to give up his lifelong ambition of becoming the winner of the Triwizard Tournament and pass along the trophy to Harry. I found Dumbledore’s speech at the end of the book particularly tragic, where he requests the students to remember Cedric. The Hogwarts headmaster always has the most insightful things to say in each book, and this book is no different. What is the opposite of ‘right’? ‘Wrong’? Wrong. When it comes to decisions, it’s ‘easy’. Here’s the quote from the book:

“Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.”

*sniff* That's just beautiful.

Romance and Love Potions
Love is definitely in the air by the fourth book. Not only does Hagrid meet his soul mate, but Harry develops a crush on Cho Chang and Ron and Hermione’s chemistry is evident. They squabble and pretend they don’t really care for each other, but of course they do. :) I guess they’re blinded by each other’s love. Awww.

The Yule Ball is my favorite chapter in the book, because it illustrates this and Harry and Ron’s typical teen awkwardness perfectly. Plus, I love the whimsicality of the whole thing. The two end up going with second-hand dates, Harry is frustrated that Cho is with someone else, and Ron is horrified when Hermione’s mysterious dance partner turns out to be none other than Victor Krum. I love how they both completely unintentionally abandon the Patil twins well before the end of the ball because of their lack of interest towards them. Moreover, a grumpy Ron makes for a highly amusing read. :)

The ninth chapter
Apparently, Chapter 9 was rewritten no less than 13 times before J. K. Rowling got it right. I guess 13 is a lucky number after all. :)

To sum up
As expected, a very entertaining read. I’ve decided to take a break from reading today. Tomorrow, it’s going to be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Just 2332 more pages to go!

Off-topic Post: More Blog Awards

2010-08-14T15:16:00.002+03:00

I was so happy to receive this award early today by Ms. C (Coffee Tale Reviews) and not long ago by Cassandra (Words on Paper). Thank you, thank you, thank you for believing that I deserved it, and making my day. :)

If anyone is interested in the seven things I shared about myself that goes along with the award, you can click here.

As for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, I'm currently on Chapter 32. I've got about a 100 pages remaining. I'll probably finish by today. The thing is, I've been distracted lately because I've got an IELTS exam next week, and exams make me nervous. Not to mention, my final exam results are being released on the 19th - so I've got plenty of butterflies in my stomach. I'm trying to read in all my spare time, though. And Goblet of Fire is extremely entertaining and helps me keep my mind off things. Still, I'm watching Mrs. Doubtfire on TV while I'm writing this. It never fails to crack me up. :) Robin Williams is absolutely hilarious!

So thanks again to Ms. C and Cassandra!

Have a great day.

On-topic Post: Book Blogger Hop! (Round 8!)

2010-08-13T08:08:00.003+03:00

OMG! It's Friday the 13th!

Welcome visitors from the book blogger hop, make yourself at home! In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this is a lovely weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books!

This time, the question we've got to answer is:
How many books do you have on your to-be read shelf?

And here's my answer:
Well, I actually have a to-be read bag, because, well, there's no more room on my shelf. Let me count...that's 9 books on my immediate tbr! Not counting the gazillion books I've made a mental note to read in the future...

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping! Oh, and if you're a blogger, leave a comment below and I'll return your visit as soon as I can! If you follow my blog, leave a comment and I'll follow back! It's all about the love. :)

Also, check out the right sidebar --> I'm in the middle of a Harry Potter challenge, which is to reread all seven books! I hope you'll join me on my journey. ;)

Off-topic - anyone have any unlucky experiences to share on this day? I remember my unluckiest day - I was in school, and a series of really bad things happened to me in quick succession. Like my homework flew out of the window. I was on the third floor, and had no way of getting out the classroom (who would believe me?!?). And then I was whacked in the face by a basketball. That's all I really remember right now. But it was a horrible day.

Have a great day, and thanks for visiting!

Book review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3 done!)

2010-08-09T23:00:00.000+03:00

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

(Beware – spoilers!)

I’ve finally finished rereading the third book in the series. Though it’s fairly dark, the book feels very whimsical to me. I think it’s because of Hogsmeade and all the yummy sweets and butterbeer. :P

Aunt Marge blows up
This time at the Dursley’s, Uncle Vernon’s (very big) sister visits and, unsurprisingly, has a whole truckload of shockingly offensive insults up her sleeve which she hurls at Harry. It’s not too difficult to understand why his involuntary response was to shatter her wine glass and blow her up, and then run away. Aunt Marge inflating reminds me of Violet Beauregarde (you know, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) when she swells up like a blueberry after she eats Willy Wonka’s faulty chewing gum. Compare:

Dissendium!
“Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people’s business.”

The Marauder’s Map – a highly technical positioning system that not only shows you every nook and cranny of Hogwarts and its wanderers very accurately, but also has a sense of humor. I want one!

The Dementors
I learned in a documentary that it was after J. K. Rowling suffered from a severe bout of depression, owing largely to her mother’s death, that she settled on the terrifying principle that the Dementors are based on – creatures that grow on fear and unhappiness, and can literally suck the soul out of you.

Snape’s insecurities

I really like Snape because he’s funny (unintentionally of course). And Snape was particularly childish (but more comical as a result!) in this book. His bitter attitude towards Harry and his father arises from a childhood practical joke that James wasn’t even responsible for. What was really amusing was when he doesn’t waste any time blaming (and screaming at) Harry for Sirius’ magical escape (“THIS – HAS – SOMETHING – TO – DO – WITH – POTTER!”) even though it sounded completely ridiculous (but completely true!). But, at least he went with his instincts, and his instincts are very, very good.

The cat-and-mouse chase
Although I remembered that Scabbers was significant in the storyline, I completely forgot that he was actually a human transformed into a rat – none other than the ugly Peter Pettigrew, who is reduced to a bawling, ‘balding baby’ in the final chapters. Pettigrew is one of those despised characters that I feel like squashing like a bug – an annoying little coward. :P

Hexes and hippogriffs
What an ending! It is a bit more long-winded than the other endings so far, but packed with action and suspense. The climax is actually a series of climaxes that exposes one shocking revelation after another. Sirius Black is innocent; Ron’s pet rat isn’t; Professor Lupin (one of J. K. Rowling’s favorite personal characters) is a werewolf; Hermione has been secretly using a Time-Turner all year; Crookshanks is as smart as its owner :); Buckbeak can actually be saved from his execution; it was future Harry’s Patronus that had saved their lives; and more. Although some of these twists seem far-fetched, the clues are all there right from the beginning, and upon rereading you realize that they are very credible. J. K. Rowling is the master (mistress?) of diversion.

To sum up
Another amazing read. Siriusly.

Movie review: Inception (2010)

2010-08-06T23:00:00.000+03:00

Your mind is the scene of the crime.

What it’s about:
“What is the most resilient parasite? Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm?

An idea. Resilient [and] highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it’s almost impossible to eradicate.”

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a con artist specializing in the fine art of ‘dream invasion’, gets involved in a highly elaborate and dangerous scheme in an attempt to return back to his family.

My take on it:
I love psychological movies, but until now I’d been telling myself that my favorite sub-genres were either psychological dramas or thrillers – movies such as A Beautiful Mind, Memento and Shutter Island. The Matrix didn’t quite capture my interest (although it is my brother’s favorite thing, and I watched it because he forced me to :P) and I reasoned that it was because of all the action. This movie changed all that. Inception is such an incredible action flick, but does not fail to offer a mind-bending storyline and central concept, all at the same time. It delivers. Not only was it splendidly entertaining, but I came home feeling – as expected! – very provoked.

Inception provides a new spin on your regular dream vs. reality theme. Is it possible to not only plant an idea into someone else’s mind, but also be able to disguise it as genuine inspiration? This is the task given to Dom Cobb and his team by Saito (Ken Watanabe). He wants his business rival to be ‘inspired’ to ruin his own father’s empire – a tall order, to say the least. Cobb now begins the complicated process of designing a ‘dream’ to dupe him - a tricky business, especially when your own subconscious is plagued by memories of the past…

…and watch the rest to find out! It’s really a stunning, yet complex, film. My only gripe would be that the first ten minutes were confusing. But, it does all tie up in the end. Well, maybe not everything. But enough. Well, you’ll find out when you go see it! ;) And a recommendation: watch it in IMAX. The striking visuals add even more substance to the storyline! Dreaming will never be the same again. And I just remembered – I once had a dream where I woke up, only to realize that the ‘waking up’ was yet another dream. That was when I realized just how easy it is to get trapped within a dream. The concept explored in the movie though, is the idea of a layered dream – a dream within a dream, within a dream.

Lastly, two words: “in limbo”. *shudder*

Rating: 4.5/5

Links:

Visit the official website here.
Watch the trailer here.

--or--
Learn more about this movie at Amazon.com here.

On-topic Post: Book Blogger Hop (Round 7!)

2010-08-06T18:22:00.003+03:00

Welcome visitors from the book blogger hop, make yourself at home! In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this is a lovely weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books!

This time, the question we've got to answer is:
Do you listen to music when you read? If so, what are your favorite reading tunes?

And here's my answer:
I prefer to be in a quiet room while reading, because music can be a bit distracting. I can tune out background noise though. Do you have any musical recommendations? :)

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping! Oh, and if you're a blogger, leave a comment below and I'll return your visit as soon as I can!

Also, check out the right sidebar --> I'm in the middle of a Harry Potter challenge, which is to reread all seven books! I hope you'll join me on my journey. ;)

Have a great day, and thanks for visiting.

Book review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2 done!)

2010-08-05T12:00:00.000+03:00

“Are you a ghost?”
“A memory.”

(Beware – spoilers!)

My thoughts on rereading Book 2 of the Harry Potter series.

What happened to the pudding…
I don't know how J. K. Rowling manages to do it, but the Dursleys are even funnier than last time – Mr. Dursley is preparing his family for dinner with a potential client while they deliberately ignore the fact that it’s Harry’s twelfth birthday. I loved it when he almost has a seizure when Harry mentions the 'M' word (which turned out to be 'please'). Then, Harry is visited by an ugly little house elf, Dobby, who tries to prevent him returning back to Hogwarts; this results in destruction of Aunt Petunia’s precious pudding. Harry is immediately locked away like a prisoner in a prison cell. Who comes to save him? The Weasleys – in an enchanted flying Ford Anglia.

Mrs. Norris petrified
I used to have a Harry Potter computer game a long time ago (key word: used to :P), and in one of the levels you had to navigate the Hogwarts library without being seen by either Argus Filch or Mrs. Norris, his cat. It was one of the most annoying and difficult levels to get through, so it’s easy enough for me to dislike the pair of them. But, when she was petrified by the Basilisk, I actually felt kind of sorry for her. Sorry for her and Filch, because after all, as it was revealed, he was what was considered an outcast in the wizarding world.

Letters and subtlety
One thing that makes rereading the series so rewarding is the things you pick up that are placed so carefully by the author. She’s a planner, and it’s evident that she knew, from the beginning, exactly how things would unravel at the end, as opposed to a spontaneous writer. For example, consider this sentence, from page 239 of Chapter 13 (The Very Secret Diary):

“Ginny was staring from the diary to Harry, looking terrified.”

The sentence is so well-placed and casual in the paragraph, that on the first read, you would have no idea about the significance of Ginny looking ‘terrified’. And this is only one example of the many, many subtle clues Rowling leaves behind in books in the entire series.

And let’s not forget J. K. Rowling’s, fascinating ability to play with letters. Tom Marvolo Riddle rearranged is I am Lord Voldemort. How did she come up with that?!? It’s pure genius, because Voldemort is not simply a made-up name, it actually has a possible relevant meaning in French: “flight from death”.

The new characters
In Chamber of Secrets, there is an interesting variety of new characters introduced by J. K. Rowling:
Dobby – Dobby is such a sad little creature, he makes me feel pretty depressed. :( His admiration for Harry makes him cute, but his self-loathing is a bit disturbing. I’m glad he got free at last.

Gilderoy Lockhart – Oh, Lockhart, you are such a superficial mess – I’m happy you ended up the way you did!

Moaning Myrtle – Myrtle is another piece of evidence for J. K. Rowling’s excellent characterization. She’s almost a caricature, but not quite. You feel sorry for her, but you’re happy she’s dead. Her pleasure at other people’s misery is what makes you dislike her. But when she invites Harry to join her in her toilet – if he had died – I burst out laughing. The poor thing!

Favorite line

“Snape looked as though Christmas had been canceled.”

Yes, the best line in this book, in my opinion, is this. It’s when Harry and Ron are in trouble after arriving at Hogwarts in a flying car and talking to Dumbledore, with Snape attempting desperately to get them expelled. Then Dumbledore declares that he wasn’t going to. You can just imagine the souring of Snape’s face when he says that! Hahaha. :)

Ginny Weasley’s crush
I wonder whether Rowling knew this early on that Ginny and Harry were going to end up together. If she did, she doesn’t leave any hints behind, because Ginny’s crush on Harry, in this book at least, is left at the notion that it’s just puppy love on her behalf.

To sum up
Book 2 was another fabulous reread. Onto Prisoner of Azkaban today! :)

Book review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling (Book 1 done!)

2010-08-02T11:00:00.000+03:00

Ahhh…the book that started it all.

This review just includes some of my thoughts on Book 1.

(Beware of spoilers!)

The first chapters
Harry Potter is just 11 years old, an orphan living in a relative’s house, yet starved, neglected and abused by his aunt, uncle and cousin. He is given a cupboard full of spiders under the stairs to sleep in, and is constantly ordered around in the house and bullied at school. All this actually sounds pretty depressing, but J. K. Rowling’s gift of relating Harry’s miserable life pre-Hogwarts in a witty, humorous way is remarkable. She wrote multiple versions of the first few chapters, and apparently the published one was not the preferred version by many readers. Personally, though, I thought it was exceptional. The Dursleys are poked fun at, and there were several instances where I laughed out loud at her descriptions, especially this one:

“Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel – Harry often said that Dudley looked like a pig in a wig.”

I cannot stop chuckling at this line! The name Dudley will be forever stained in my eyes – wicked, dirty and downright dumb. And, ‘dinky duddydums”?!? XD

Hermione Puckle?

I’m glad Rowling decided to change Hermione’s last name from ‘Puckle’ to ‘Granger’ – ‘Puckle’ just doesn’t seem very smart. Also, her first description of Hermione is pretty amusing:

“She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth.”

The ‘teeth’ depiction has obviously been intentionally ignored by the filmmakers!

Also, Hermione seems to be portrayed as a little annoying and picky at first. It is the troll scene in Chapter 10 which is a marking point and the point where Ron and Harry accept Hermione into their group:

“But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.”

A very heartwarming way of confirming their friendship, don't you think?

Hagrid
I love Hagrid. In the first book, he is duped by a hooded stranger, owns a growling three-headed dog (aptly named Fluffy), and sings lullabies to his baby (a dragon). Who doesn’t love Hagrid?

The Hogwarts song
...seems a bit out of place. Like J. K. Rowling’s first depiction of Hogwarts was that it was a nutty place with an equally nutty headmaster. The first few lines go like this:

“Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees…”

What do you think? :)

The Mirror of Erised
Made me tear up for some reason. Dumbledore’s explanation for it is that it shows the deepest desires embedded in our subconscious, and all Harry longs for so desperately is to get to know his own parents. Also, I learned something new – you know the inscription carved at the top of the mirror that says “Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi”? If you reverse the letters and adjust the spacing, you get “I show not your face but your heart's desire”. Do you see it? Unfortunately, I did not figure this out myself. For more, click here.

Death and mortality
There was one line in the book that I did not need rereading to remember. It’s such a powerful and personal thing to say, and to this day I believe it to be true. It’s what Dumbledore says to Harry in the last chapter:

“To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”

Amazing. Doesn’t it make fearing death a silly thing? :)

To sum up
All in all, Book 1 was a thoroughly enjoyable reread, and left me craving for chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. And, wizard crackers. :D

On-topic Post: Reading the entire Harry Potter series again!

2010-07-31T21:29:00.007+03:00

Hello!

So, lately, I’ve been feeling, um, a little nostalgic for Harry Potter – and this is partly inspired by my cousin who is a faithful fan of the series (who is currently rereading her way through the books for the umpteenth time in a row – hello AJ! *waves*). The result being: setting myself a personal challenge where I crack open the books and hope that by getting lost in the wizarding world once again, I can possibly cure it (the nostalgia, I mean). The goal is to simply read all seven books and enjoy it. There’s no time limit, although I’d like to get done by the end of this year. I will probably be reading the series in between other books (books I will have to read soon or I’ll never get to it!), and providing updates as I go along. If anyone would like to join me, please feel free to do so :). For the others, I invite you to read along my journey. Seven books, totaling around 4000 pages (according to the Internet :P). This is the first time I’m rereading the series, so there must be tons of things I’ve forgotten already – but I’m sure I’m going to have a fantastic time!

When was the last time you reread the series? Or better yet, how many times? Who else still misses the series? :)

These are not the covers of the copies I have, but, they look nice. :D

Edit: I had (unintentionally) started my challenge on none other than Harry Potter's (and J. K. Rowling's) birthday! I'm going to take that as a good sign. So, happy birthday, Harry! Have a good one.

On-topic Post: Book Blogger Hop! (Round 6!)

2010-07-30T06:25:00.002+03:00

I'm blog-hopping in the midst of some last minute packing because I’ve got a plane to catch tonight! So welcome visitors from the book blogger hop, make yourself at home! In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this is a lovely weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books!

This time, the question we've got to answer is:
Who is your favorite new-to-you author so far this year?

And here's my answer:
Early on in January I read my first book by Sarah Dessen - Just Listen. Needless to say, that one book quickly become one of my favorite reads so far this year! She's a wonderful author whose writing is very readable and creates very touching stories. If you're interested in my other favorite books so far, check out my post here. Enjoy, my fellow booklovers!

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping! Oh, and if you're a blogger, leave a comment below and I'll return your visit as soon as I can!

Have a great day!

Movie review: Brothers (2009)

2010-07-29T19:23:00.004+03:00

There are two sides to every family.

What it’s about:
In Brothers, a young marine (Tobey Maguire) must face troubling conditions with his brother (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his own family when returning home from Afghanistan. It is a remake of the Danish film Brødre.

My take on it:
If you’ve watched the trailer for this movie, you pretty much already know the entire story. In fact, I would recommend not watching the trailer for a more unpredictable experience. :) Brothers is a strong, powerful movie of one family in crisis. It’s got an intriguing yet unsettling premise. Consider this: Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire – Spiderman’s cute Peter Parker!)) is a marine captain about to set off to Afghanistan. He has a caring, supportive wife, Grace (Natalie Portman) and two delightful little girls, who are finding it difficult to cope with his absence. His brother Tommy Cahill (Jake Gyllenhaal) has just been released from prison. Their father makes it clear that Tommy - who is deemed the ‘inferior’ son, as opposed to Sam, the family hero – will have to do a lot to redeem himself. But with Sam gone, his daughters soon begin to open up to their uncle, and his brother is inexplicably drawn to his wife…which, as you can guess, makes for an intense, unspeakable story of family betrayal.

I thought the acting was terrific – Tobey Maguire almost scared me as he played the troubled, paranoid soldier; he really lost himself in the character which called for a disturbing watch. There was one particular scene where he loses total control in the kitchen which was easily one of the best moments of the movie. It was well played out, intense, emotional and crazy loud. Jake Gyllenhaal also brought his character to life – his scenes were splendid to watch. Natalie Portman’s acting was subtle and impressive, yet her character was a bit emotionless, especially towards the end. And speaking of the ending, I thought it was the only weak spot – much too abrupt and was inconclusive, leaving too many questions open (the easy way out?). Also, the child acting is some of the best I’ve seen!

Ultimately, watch this movie for its emotional ride, heavy atmosphere and perfect pacing. Brothers is a poignant, carefully crafted tale of sibling rivalry and love, with a great performance by a very talented cast. The fine acting also makes for an easy rewatch.

Rating: 4/5

Links:
Watch the trailer for this movie here.
Visit the official website here.

--or--
Learn more about the movie Brothers, or purchase from Amazon.com here.

Book review: The Midnight Club by Christopher Pike

2010-07-26T10:21:00.007+03:00

Their stories became their lives…

What it’s about:
(from back cover – shortened version)

Rotterham Home was a hospice for young people, a place where teenagers with terminal illnesses went to die. Nobody who checked in ever checked out. At the hospice was a group of five young men and women who called themselves The Midnight Club. Every night at twelve they met and told each other stories – tales of intrigue and horror, of life and death.

But one night, in the middle of a particularly scary story, these five people make a pact with each other that says that the first one of them who dies is to make every effort to contact the others – from beyond the grave.

Then one of them dies.

And the story begins.

The most wonderful story.

The most horrible.

My take on it:
Christopher Pike always comes up with some of the most incredible and horrifying premises –the back cover for this book enticed me so much I knew I just had to buy it. Now that I’ve finished reading it, I can say that while it certainly was an entertaining read (and includes all the typical features of a Christopher Pike novel – suspense, twists, love and distress, easy writing, and historical aspects), it unfortunately fell a bit short of my expectations. Let me explain why.

Ilonka Pawluk suffers from cancer that will ultimately lead to her death. She is transferred to Rotterham Home, a hospice, where she becomes part of a special, private and deeply intimate club that holds meetings at midnight, where the patients pour their hearts out with meticulously crafted tales that both amuse and amaze. Then, the members of the club stumble upon a grave idea – the next person to die should try their hardest to communicate with the others – thereby giving some form of relief that an afterlife exists. Sounds interesting? I thought so. Now if only this premise was executed more thoroughly, it would have made for a better read. Yet only a few pages were devoted to this dark and wonderful idea, and instead Pike fills the pages in with the unnecessary, often long-winded stories of the Midnight Club members which I thought read like leftover story sketches picked up from the waste bin of some writer (or, indeed, his own). :P

I would say the love story in the book is touching, and so is the ending. The epilogue seemed a bit absurd. The interactions between the terminally ill characters were satisfying and emotional. Here’s a part from the book that I particularly liked (don’t worry, it’s spoiler-free):

“Every mystery is solved?”

“No. The big mystery will not be solved until the day we die. We have our stories, our dreams, our beliefs, but until then everything is just speculation.”

“We will not have to speculate much longer.”

“That is true.”

Ultimately, I would only recommend this book for fans of Christopher Pike who have not yet read this book but are curious, or would like to add it to their collection. Others would only be disappointed. :(There are much better books by Pike out there (try Falling – which turned out to be one of the best suspense novels I’ve read this year).

Rating: 2.5/5

Links:

Visit the Wikipedia page for the author here.
Visit a fan site for Christopher Pike here.
Check out complete bibliography of Christopher Pike’s here.

--or--
Learn more about the book The Midnight Club, or purchase from Amazon.com here.

On-topic Post: Book Blogger Hop! (Round 5!)

2010-07-23T12:00:00.003+03:00

Welcome visitors from the book blogger hop, make yourself at home! In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this is a lovely weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books!

This time, the question we've got to answer is:
TELL US ABOUT THE BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING!

And here's my answer:
Right now I'm reading a book called Four Past Midnight by Stephen King, in between other books, of course. :) It contains four novellas. I can say it's a wonderful book with some very interesting, and creepy, stories. I'm still a long way from finishing it, though. ;) But you can't go wrong with Stephen King!

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping! Oh, and if you're a blogger, leave a comment below and I'll return your visit as soon as I can!

Have a great day!

On-topic Post: The Best Books of 2010 (so far): a list

2010-07-22T23:00:00.001+03:00

We’re already in the middle of July, and it’s been 7 months since I started this blog. 7 months?!? That seems like a looong time. So I thought I’d make a list detailing some of my favorite books that I’ve read so far this year. These five books, listed in reviewing order, entertained, stunned, informed and dazzled – and all had one thing in common – they were completely enjoyable.

Inspired by BookMarc Blogpant’s post: Midyear Review - My 5 Favorite Books so far this Year.

1. What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson
Who knew a dark fantasy/science-fiction novel about afterlife could have been this moving and romantic? A fairly linear storyline about a guy who is killed in a car crash leads to the most amazingly intricate climax that will cause you to look at death in a new view altogether. And if a book can do that…I should admit it has to be a good one. Sure, it may not be for everyone, but if you’re interested in one author’s compilation of (well-researched) thoughts of afterlife put in the context of an epic story that will blow your mind, I’m sure you’ll be very surprised. And I still remember the one line in the book that hit home for me: “The mind is all.” And that, is all. :)

Read the full review here.

2. Just After Sunset by Stephen King
Stephen King’s collection of 13 short stories makes this list simply because they were just so darn enjoyable to read. From The Gingerbread Girl, an action-packed story about a girl running away from a madman, to N., a psychological tale that makes the hair on the back of your neck prickle, to A Very Tight Place, a true little masterpiece that combines comedy and horror, this book kept me up at night (with the door open and the bedside lamp switched on, of course). Stephen King really is a MASTER short-storyteller.

Read the full review here.

3. Falling by Christopher Pike

It’s about death. Or faking it. It’s about heartbreak. It’s about wicked people and a broken man and woman and how they fall in love. And it makes up for a breathtaking story that will make your heart race with all the twists and turns. Needless to say, with Falling, Christopher Pike has created a thriller with a difference – it sticks inside your head even when it’s over. Its characters move you and the story is stirring. It’s a book I can re-read again and again, and that’s saying a lot for a thriller! All in all, a truly impressive adult novel by Christopher Pike.

Read the full review here.

4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
Well, this book was a surprise. I didn’t expect to like it as much I did. But, as the story progressed, I fell in love with the characters – the skinny, pierced and tattooed motorcyclist (Lisbeth) who has a secret hobby of computer hacking, and Mikael, the journalist with the damaged reputation, and so did millions over the world – the reason it’s a bestseller! The other thing that I really liked about the book was its dark atmosphere and storytelling – you read it the way you sip your soup, slowly yet tastefully – awkward comparison, I know, but that’s the way I felt. :) Also, the Swedish setting adds a nice foreign touch, which was a plus.

Read the full review here.

5. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

My original review for this is half-written and not posted, but only because I’m afraid I won’t do this wonderful young adult novel any justice. This is high-quality work. It’s certainly one of the most romantic teen novels I’ve read. At first I disregarded it because I thought it was only going to be a light read – but ignore the bland cover and the chick-lit blurb because it’s a multi-layered novel that contains a priceless story that a teen will enjoy on so many levels. In fact, here’s part of the review I wrote while the novel was still fresh in my mind: “I confess I was so narrow-minded and at first glance thought that this was some light, simple chick lit story, something I could read quickly and sloppily and then jump right into something else afterwards once I was done. Boy, was I wrong! This book turned to be amazingly and intricately complex, deeper than I ever hoped it would be, so much that by the end I was almost awestruck and wanted Annabel’s story to go on forever…” Lol, it sounds like I’m shoving the book down your throat! Well, ahem, maybe I am. ;)

So that sums up the 5 best reads so far in 2010. I plan to read many more! Do you agree with the books I’ve listed here? What were some of your favorite books this year? I’d love to hear what you have to say! :)

Movie review: Before Sunrise (1995)

2010-07-11T23:00:00.001+03:00

Can the greatest romance of your life last only one night?

What it’s about:
An American man (Ethan Hawke) and a young French woman (Julie Delpy) are strangers who meet one fateful day on a train. On an impulsive notion, they decide to throw away their previous plans to spend time together in Vienna for just one day.

My take on it:
Sometimes it is easier, much easier, to open up to a total stranger than someone you’ve known all your life. The internet definitely proves it. Before Sunrise takes this concept and expands on it exquisitely. It is such a phenomenally simple film, yet touches on something that all of us yearn for – that connection, the human contact, the unification of ideas and opinions, and the overwhelming satisfaction you get when someone understands you. Our two main characters, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) is planning to get back to the US while Céline is traveling to Paris, two people with very different lives with two very different destinations. When their paths cross however, the impulse seems crazy, yet it’s easy to consider the idea of giving up a tiny portion of our standard life if it means to getting that human connection.

If a movie is that emotionally raw, then it makes sense not to over-process it too much – the movie has simplistic direction, and it almost seems as if you’re watching in real-time. There’s not a whole lot of action; it has a quiet, mellow atmosphere and slow-moving pace which makes it a whole lot more romantic. And the acting…is some of the best acting I’ve seen, I think there was as much chemistry between the actors off-screen as there was on-screen! There was one particular scene that made my heart melt – where they’re both inside this listening booth together at a record store – watch it and tell me if you could get through that sitting still because at that moment the emotion felt so raw and the attraction felt so real. And the ending is where the nostalgia kicks in, the most predictable yet heart-wrenching end to an emotional masterpiece.

Definitely, definitely watch this if you haven’t already. It gets better with every re-watch, too. A must-see for all us romantics ;). There’s also a sequel which I can’t wait to watch, Before Sunset.
Tell me your thoughts about this movie if you’ve seen it/plan to see it! Did you like it as much as I did?

Rating: 5/5

Links:
Visit the IMDb page here.
Watch the official trailer here.
--or--
Learn more about the movie Before Sunrise or purchase from Amazon.com here.

Book review: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

2010-07-06T23:00:00.002+03:00

What it's about:
In a parallel universe much darker than ours, Lyra Belacqua, an 11-year-old orphan, lives in Jordan College, Oxford with her uncle Lord Asriel and many other scholars. Life was ‘normal’ until the day she decided to sneak into a forbidden, secret room where she witnesses something that will take her on a strange and dangerous journey to the North.

The Golden Compass is the first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy.

My take on it:
Was it ignorance that made me disregard this as just a children’s book? Either way, let me just say I’m really glad I finally came round to reading it. Because The Golden Compass completely fascinated me with a dark and magical tale full of adventure, mystery and chills. It is definitely not just for children, I think anyone would find it entertaining with its premise of good vs. evil and controversy and all.

I should probably start by giving a token of appreciation to Philip Pullman’s imagination. Not many can pull off creating something in a pretend, story-book world that is so realistic and sensible that on reading it you hope and wish this might actually be something true. I’m talking about the concept of ‘daemons’. In Lyra’s world, every person has a living, breathing creature that takes the form of an animal that best fits your character. When you are young, your daemon can transform into any animal it wants, but once you reach puberty, it takes on a fixed shape. I’m probably not doing it any justice with my explanation ;), but when you do read about this, you are swept away into this world where people are conjoined with eagles, snow leopards, hissing serpents, rabbits, all part of their own identity.

There were times in the book where I was creeped out, especially the descriptions of the mysterious woman with the golden monkey luring children away with her – a more disturbing, female version of Pied Piper? I really think this could give children nightmares! :O This is, in fact, the central mystery surrounding the book. My only complaint would be that the book dragged a little at times, but things began escalating once and for all at around Chapter 12.

Well, now I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book.

This is the kind of book where you lock yourself in the bedroom, sweep the curtains across, switch on the bedside lamp and get completely lost in a beautiful, elaborate world the author has constructed. If by any chance you haven’t already read this one, and in the mood for a dark and engrossing story, I suggest you pick this one up.

On a superficial note, I loved all the fancy names: Iorek Byrnison, Lord Asriel, Serafina Pekkala…and Lyra is one of the most beautiful names I have heard of.

Rating: 4.5/5

On-topic Post: Book Blogger Hop! (Round 4!)

2010-07-02T09:40:00.003+03:00

Welcome visitors from the book blogger hop, make yourself at home! In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this is a lovely weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books! This time (well, the last time I checked), a whopping 115 blogs have already signed up! Also, we've got a question to answer:

Tell us your NAME and WHY YOU STARTED BLOGGING.

I'm Elle and I started blogging simply because I love talking about books and movies, and love hanging around other people that do! :)

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping! Oh, and if you're a blogger, leave a comment below and I'll return your visit as soon as I can!

Have a great day everyone.

Book review: Everlost by Neal Shusterman

2010-07-01T20:09:00.005+03:00

Somewhere between life and death is…Everlost.

What it's about:
On one fateful day, two unknown cars violently crash into one another. Before they know it, Nick and Allie, the two victims of the crash, find themselves hurtling through a tunnel towards a mysterious source of light, to finally wake up in a beautiful lush forest. This world, they soon learn, is Everlost. An accident. A refuge for people who have been, in effect, lost on their way to heaven. It may look like paradise, but Everlost holds some dark and sinister mysteries. Why hasn’t anyone defeated the McGill, the creature most feared by its people, the afterlights? And why does Mary’s kingdom seem a little eerie?

Would Nick and Allie be able find the answers…before they get dragged down into the center of the earth?

My take on it:
I confess I have an odd fascination with books (or anything for that matter :P) that deal with the subject of death and afterlife. So I was definitely surprised to find out that this one was a particularly creative and imaginative take on life after death. Everlost is the first book in the Skinjacker trilogy, where the term ‘skinjacker’ refers to a person who has the ability to possess other living creatures in the real world.

Apart from the excellent creation of the fictional world, there is some great character development in Everlost. Lief, the little lost boy of Everlost who befriends Nick and Allie is soo adorable! Allie’s the headstrong one, while Nick’s weakness is naivety and not quite ready to accept that he is in fact a ghost. Almost all the characters change in some major way at the end. McGill, the greedy, coin-collecting monster who inhabits his own ghost ship, had a comical quality to him that made up some of the most amusing parts of the story.

Although Everlost can be classed as a children’s adventure book, I think that, if given the opportunity, it could have been truly and insanely frightening. At no point in the book did things get too dark, but there were definitely aspects that creeped me out! Take the situation at Mary’s kingdom for example, a place where hundreds of little ghostly boys and girls are looked after by their guardian Mary. An outsider, as Allie did, would notice that these kids function in an ‘endless loop’, repeating the same activity over and over again, unknown to them, for years at a stretch. And the ending too was darkly horrifying, and opened lots of outlets for the sequel.

So, all in all, I really really enjoyed this. It’s an extremely well-written and riveting story, perfect for anyone, especially teens and children, ready for a dark and fantastical adventure.

Rating: 4/5

Off-topic Post: Happy July! :)

2010-07-01T16:36:00.005+03:00

I'm baaack. :)

I feel like the whole month of June flew by. I'm done with exams, and I feel...liberated! Now I've got loads of time to catch up doing the things I love most. These days I've been mostly packing and cleaning because I'm traveling to my home country in the hooot, sweltering tropics. I'm sure most of you are happily vacationing as well! ;) And I had to clean my room from top to bottom, because after the exams, it really did look like it was hit by a tornado.

While I've been hiding behind a pile of (school) books, the lovely Alisha from Alisha's World gave me an award! Thank you so much!

Rules of the award are as follows:
1.Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
2.Share 7 things about yourself.
3.Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order...)
4.Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

Seven things about myself? Let's see...

1. I am addicted to pop psychology. :P And I'm about to study psychology at university.
2. I have a twin brother who's 18. (well, of course he is)
3. I have twin cousins who are also 18. I think it runs in the family!
4. I secretly love dust storms. (see here)
5. I still like to read books by my favorite childhood authors:- R. L. Stine, Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl...
6. I have a ton of different phobias - fear of the dark, fear of ghosts, fear of very high places. This doesn't stop me from loving horror, although I did make myself promise to stop watching horror movies. (I broke my promise once and watched Paranormal Activity. Never again.)
7. I am an extremely messy person.

Here are the people I'm going to pass this award over to:

1. Leanna at Daisy Chain Book Reviews
2. Audrey at Holes in my Brain

I know that's not 15 bloggers, but these blogs are great! Check them out if you haven't done so already! :D

That's it for now!

Off-topic Post: Exam break (and other things)

2010-05-19T20:01:00.009+03:00

Okay, so my FINAL exams have officially started.

Not so good. The timetable stretches for more than one month and ends on June 25th. Therefore I'll be requiring an exam break. I'm not going to lie and say I won't be reading or watching anything during this time, but I just won't have as much time to sit down, analyse and write reviews, when my brain is squashed up with all the scientific and mathematical knowledge I'll need! :)

Meanwhile, I've got two more awards from two lovely people! The first is a From Me To You, given to me by Kelly at the Book Sanctuary:

This is the most thoughtful award ever! Thank you Kelly! Here are the people I will be passing it on to:

1. Jennifer at Reading with Tequila
2. Priya at The Plum Bean Project

Next I got the Over the Top Award, from the lovely Heather from Proud Book Nerd! Thank you!
Once you get this award, you have to answer a series of questions using ONE-WORD answers only! This should be fun! Here we go...

1. Where is your cell phone? Bag.
2. Your hair? Black!
3. Your mother? Beautiful.
4. Your father? Greatest.
5. Your favorite food? Veggies!
6. Your dream last night? Nightmarish.
7. Your favorite drink? Chocolate.
8. Your dream/goal? Psychologist.
9. What room are you in? Bedroom.
10. Your hobby? Learning.
11. Your fear? Darkness.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Homeland.
13. Where were you last night? Home.
14. Something that you aren’t? Assertive.
15. Muffins? LOVE!
16. Wish list item? Scholarship.
17. Where did you grow up? Middle East.
18. Last thing you did? Ate.
19. What are you wearing? Comfy.
20. Your TV? Uninteresting.
21. Your pets? Doggies!
22. Friends? Sweet.
23. Your life? Crazy.
24. Your mood? Neutral.
25. Missing someone? Yep.
26. Car? None.
27. Something you’re not wearing? Contacts.
28. Your favorite store? Bookstore.
29. Your favorite color? Lavender.
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today.
31. Last time you cried? Today.
32. Your best friend? Overseas.
33. One place that I go to over and over? Bathroom.
34. One person who emails me regularly? K.
35. Favorite place to eat? Home.

LOL, that was great! Thanks again, Heather! I'll be passing this on to:

1. Nonie, at The Flying Scribble
2. Alisha at Alisha's World

That's it for now. Hope you all are having a great week! Wish me luck! :)

Book review: Skin by Roald Dahl

2010-05-12T13:26:00.002+03:00

The world’s No. 1 storyteller has a dark side to his imagination…

What it's about:
(from back cover)

How would you get rid of a murder without causing suspicion?

Where would you hide a diamond where no one else would think of looking?

What if you found out that the tattoo on your back was worth over a million pounds?

You will discover that just about anything is possible in a Roald Dahl story, and here are eleven of his very best.

My take on it:
I once checked out a book at the school library that had Roald Dahl on its cover. At that point, I had read most of his children’s books, and I remember feeling quite astonished that the same man who wrote the heart-warming tales of Charlie and Matilda could write such shockingly dark tales. Now I have come to love them, and I picked up this book to bring back memories of those stories. Indeed, in Skin, Roald Dahl seems to have almost no sympathy for any of his characters; they are sadly doomed right from the start. After finishing each short story I had a distinct sinking feeling in my heart – that’s just how powerful they are. There were some that were brilliantly satisfying, just entertaining, though a few were mediocre.

If I had to choose one story and make you read it, (:P) it would be Dip in the Pool. It has a stunning ending you could never see coming that completely takes you aback. It made me gasp out loud. My other favorites were: Skin, Lamb to the Slaughter and Galloping Foxley. The only ones I didn’t care much about were An African Story and Beware of the Dog. The first was too confusing, and the second I didn’t get. Maybe someone can enlighten me? :)

So definitely get this if you’re interested in this strangely bizarre yet wildly entertaining stuff. I’ll be on the lookout for the similar short-story books available by Roald Dahl.

Rating: 3.5/5

p.s. - Not a big fan of the cover. That snake makes me feel uneasy! O.o

Off-topic Post: First Blog Award!

2010-05-05T08:33:00.009+03:00

Jillian at Random Ramblings gave me my first blog award! It was unexpected but definitely made my day.

"A prolific blogger is one who is intellectually productive, keeping up an active blog with enjoyable content. After accepting this award, recipients are asked to pass it forward to seven other deserving blogs."

Isn't that great? I'm overjoyed! Thanks Jillian!

Once you receive the award, you pass it on to seven other deserving blogs. So it's time to pass this on to some blogs I love (in no particular order!)...

1. Alisha at Alisha's World

2. Audrey at Holes in my Brain

3. Amelia at Imagination in Focus

4. Emidy at Une Parole

5. Kathy at The Literary Amnesiac

6. Heather at Proud Book Nerd

7. Amanda at Manda's Movements

Go check out these blogs, they're amazing! :D

Have a great day.

Book review: When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

2010-04-27T18:38:00.003+03:00

How do you translate your heart?

What it's about:
It’s the start of senior year, and both Sara and Tobey have serious goals in mind. Sara’s got her eye on Dave, part of the in crowd, and Tobey, a not-so-popular guy with a passion for music, has got his eye on her. Sara’s hoping to get into NYU; Tobey’s still wondering whether college is the right thing for him.

Are they destined for each other?

My take on it:
Initially, I was sure that this book was just a pretty cover. But in the end I was proven wrong; this is actually a pretty decent story that I really enjoyed. Granted, this is not in any way a serious book but it does not pretend to be one. It is light and quick to read, totally girly and a perfect escape from hectic everyday life. The book is told in diary format, with alternating viewpoints of Sara and Tobey recounting personal experiences in a very lively, animated manner that often made me laugh out loud. The main characters themselves seemed a little amateurish in the beginning, but they do grow on you. The book is also more character-driven and situation-based so there is not much a plot and the story is ultimately predictable. But, I would not say that I found it boring at any point.

I must mention again that character development is what keeps the story going, and by the end you will find the duo adorable! Sara, a high achiever in school, is a bit of a dreamer who yearns for true love to come her way. Not everything in her life is working out though – she feels unloved by her mother. Meanwhile, Tobey musters up the courage to ask her out. He too feels misunderstood by his father who disapproves of his decision to further develop his musical career instead of going to college. And amidst SAT tests and transcripts, the two grow closer to make for a sweet, albeit clichéd, romantic tale.

One thing that irked me however, was the age group that this book is meant to be for. Both Sara and Tobey are just about to graduate high school, so they are around 18-ish, so there is plenty of swearing and sexual innuendo. But the author’s very casual writing seems to suggest that this is for younger teens (substituting ‘she’s like’ and ‘she goes’ for ‘she said’ is not something I am particularly fond of in books). So which is it? I have no idea.

But all in all, in this novel, Susane Colasanti has brought together the experiences of two unlikely high school seniors to create what really is quite a light, entertaining little story. I will definitely check out some of her other books.

Rating: 3.5/5

Book review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

2010-04-23T19:20:00.007+03:00

What it's about:
Mikael Blomkvist, once a successful financial journalist of the magazine Millennium, is accused of libel and sentenced to jail for publishing an article against the renowned industrialist, Hans-Erik Wennerström. Swamped by media attacks against him and Millennium, he accepts an odd assignment after given enough incentive by Henrik Vanger, an old industrialist of the Vanger company, to get to the truth behind his niece Harriet’s disappearance 40 years ago.

Meanwhile, we meet Lisbeth Salander, the skinny, pierced and tattooed motorcyclist and undercover investigator who happens to be autistic with a broken existence. What’s more, she is a brilliant computer hacker. It’s only a matter of time before the paths of both investigators cross and they work together to crack open the baffling secret hidden among the members of the Vanger family.

My take on it:
The first thing you should probably know is that this book is translated from Swedish and written by a Swedish author. The second thing you should know is that he died before any of the books in this trilogy was published. The third thing is that This. Is. Such. An. Amazing. Book! Believe the hype, since it’s impossible to ignore anyway! It’s been a long time since I’ve read something that made my heart feel heavy at times, kept me awake at night devouring the words, made chills tingle down my spine and care so much about the characters as if they were real, all in one. Needless to say, this is one of the best crime fiction novels I have ever read.

In order to avoid any major disappointments, I must emphasize that this book may not be everyone. For one, the book is pretty long since it is slow-moving but tastefully written, and will take a little while to get into. The author has put in major effort in introducing the main characters, their history and their demeanors. Lisbeth Salander may in fact seem a little weird in the beginning, but will soon turn out to be an impressive and delightful person. Anyone who feels queasy upon reading descriptions of graphic violence (although it in no way overbears this story) should best avoid it. Also, this is not your typical whodunit mystery. It requires the reader to become emotionally sucked into the story and its players in order to enjoy its aftereffects. If you fit into these criteria, I think you’ll be in for a very enjoyable experience. :) One thing I will say is that all the events in the story are satisfyingly wrapped up, there are no loose ends, but enough anticipation is created to leave you starving for the sequel, The Girl Who Played with Fire.

Overall, this book contained the right amount of action, mystery, romance and distress for me to make it truly delightful. I am so, so sorry that Stieg Larsson is not alive to see the success of his books.

Rating: 5/5

Links:

Learn more about the book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, or purchase from Amazon.com here.

On-topic Post: Book Blog Hop! (Round 3!)

2010-04-23T07:19:00.002+03:00

Welcome visitors from the book blogger hop, make yourself at home! In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this is a lovely weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books! Last time, a whopping 184 blog participated. Isn't that great? :)

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping! Oh, and if you're a blogger, leave a comment below and I'll return your visit as soon as I can!

Have a great day everyone.

Off-topic Post: The YA Community Thanksgiving

2010-04-21T21:26:00.005+03:00

I haven’t been blogging for long, but I can still find things to be thankful for! If you’d like to join in the fun, you can find Adele’s original post at Persnickety Snark here. Here are the three main things I appreciate right now, but of course there’s going to be a LOT more in the future! :D

1. I’m so glad I found my niche – the YA/books community consists of some of the friendliest people on earth, and is relatively less competitive and more drama-free than others. Although we are of different ages, come from different parts of the world and speak different languages at home, we are all booklovers sharing the same love for reading. I only know a few people in my life who likes to read as much as I do (no one in my family reads as compulsively as I do, but then again they are not as crazy as I am) and it’s comforting to know that there are others who gush about the books and authors they love.

2. Stumbling across great new book blogs everyday – need I say more? ;) I am already starting to feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of wonderful blogs maintained so meticulously that I can’t resist following.

3. You guys! Those who were nice enough to think that this blog was worthy of following or worthy of commenting. Oh, and did I mention that when I first started this blog Lauren at Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf left not one, not two but three consecutive comments on my first three posts and was my first follower? Is that not a sign of a big heart? ^^

So again, a big thank you to the people of the YA community! A year ago, I did not even know such a lovely community existed. Now I feel incredibly lucky that I’m a part of it, and don’t know what I’d do without it. And I’m making the promise that I will be commenting on five different blogs that I am unfamiliar with. Yay! :D

Book review: The Broker by John Grisham

2010-04-18T19:07:00.002+03:00

How sad to be terrified of your own name.

So I'd just made dinner (noodles...yum!) and decided in the last minute to post this review. I've been a bit stingy with my reviews lately, since I still haven't gotten round to writing the reviews for Just Listen and Alice in Wonderland (I know, you're shocked), so tend to hold on to the ones I've already written. :P So anyway, onto the review for The Broker...

Joel Backman is a Washington power broker who ends up in prison with all his power stripped away from him when he attempts to broker a deal concerning a secret but sophisticated satellite system. But then he receives a pardon out of the blue and a chance to break out of his wrongdoings. Backman is sent off to Italy where he is guided to assume the identity of Marco Lazzeri, a fictional Italian, to lead a new life as a new man. When he discovers that he is actually entwined in a dangerous plan set up by the CIA, he begins to struggle to keep himself alive.

After reading this book it’s easy to figure out why The Broker got relatively lower ratings compared to some of his other books. The majority of the story is based in Bologna, Italy and the author’s note at the end states that John Grisham visited Italy for research work. This becomes obvious owing to the detailed descriptions of Italy – the cities, buildings and architecture, language, history and cuisine, particularly in the middle. There are about a hundred Italian words and phrases along with their translations littered throughout the book, a couple explanations of historical buildings that stretch to a couple of pages, and many lessons on the fine art of Italian eating (When should you not order a cappuccino? Do you know difference between an espresso and a cappuccino, a tortellini and a tortelloni?!?). And it makes you feel like you’re reading some Italian travel guide intended to prep you up for your next trip! However, reading this while on vacation made all the difference – the Italian backdrop then seemed much more bearable and less boring. :)

John Grisham does deserve points for his characterization – for a greedy, crafty criminal, Joel Backman is an immensely likeable character. Towards the end I found myself rooting for him, willing for him to survive. And despite the slow pace (it picks up much too late), it is a fairly suspenseful thriller, but without any mind churning twists and exciting revelations. The ending too is mediocre, so don’t expect anything too great, but for me, it was reasonably satisfying. It is Joel Backman and only him that keeps the story going, because other than that the book is without much of a plot.

So here’s what I recommend: get the book when you’re travelling, because it is a great vacation novel. Read it on the plane or at night in your hotel room, and it will help you relate to the main character and get immersed in his world, thus making it much, much more enjoyable.

Rating: 3.5/5

On-topic Post: Book Blogger Hop! (Round 2!)

2010-04-16T13:31:00.000+03:00

Welcome visitors from the book blogger hop, make yourself at home! In case you don't know what I'm talking about, this is a lovely weekly event hosted by Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books! I'm a bit more excited than I should be to have one hosted on by birthday! :P

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping! Oh, and if you're a blogger, leave a comment below and I'll return your visit as soon as I can!

Have a great day. ;)

Off-topic Post: Happy Birthday Me!

2010-04-16T07:19:00.000+03:00

Please bear with me while I sing my happy birthday song.

Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday to me! Me!
Cuz I’m finally eighteen!

And, did you notice the new three-column layout? All thanks goes to this wonderful guy. Without him, I would have seriously fudged up my site. :O

I know I shamelessly sang happy birthday just for me, so let's turn the tables just for once and sing for my brother!

Happy birthday to him
Happy birthday to him
Happy birthday to hiiiiim
Cuz he's finally eighteen!

Yayy! And now that I'm done, I'll disappear. I hope you all have a lovely day! Anyone up for a yummy piece of chocolate cake with roasted marshmallows? :)

Book review: The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman

2010-04-15T16:36:00.000+03:00

Her name was Sally Lockhart; and within fifteen minutes, she was going to kill a man.

Meet Sally Lockhart. She is not your ordinary 16-year-old girl. Her mother died a long time ago, and she has just received news that her father, Matthew Lockhart, had drowned when his ship sank in the South China Sea, along with a strange note that informs her of The Seven Blessings. Orphaned and alone, with no one left to trust, Sally sets out to solve the mystery and uncover the truth about what really happened to her father.

Let me begin by saying I have not read one book by Philip Pullman until now (yes, I’ll go hide in my hole after that confession) but just know that he is a very popular British children’s author, and at first glance I thought that this was going to be similar to a nice, straightforward Nancy Drew mystery. After finishing it I can say that yes, the book is fairly straightforward, but it was in no way comparable to a sleek and light children’s story. Set in 19th century England, The Ruby in the Smoke contains child slaves, drug addicts, killings, a lost Indian jewel, and a very scary villain, and is very much darker than I imagined it to be. Though it was all a very enjoyable adventure, I had one problem with it (see below).

The book had a dramatic beginning and a dramatic ending which I liked a lot, there were a few twists that I didn’t see coming, and the story is also very well-written. However, I’d have liked to see a bit more action involving Sally. Now, I am not an action junkie, but the middle bit was somewhat lackluster because Sally was mostly passive, with all the exciting events happening to her instead of her actively resolving it. I don’t know if I’m alone with this issue, but maybe historical fiction is just not my thing.

The title refers to opium smoke which, when breathed in, allows the user to relive specific events that had occurred in his or her past. This is employed by a few main characters in the book to piece together the puzzle of the missing ruby, the same ruby which Mrs. Holland has been after for many years. Mrs. Holland is portrayed as a repulsive old woman, a blackmailer and a child abuser, who would like to see Sally dead. Sally herself is a very likeable character. She is a strong-willed, intelligent and compassionate heroine who undergoes hardships that no one her age should go through. Her extraordinary capabilities include knowing how to operate a gun and financing a business. The rest of the characters were also developed very well.

Altogether, a fair story with great characterization and but, for me, ultimately forgettable. Read it if you’re in the mood for a reasonable Victorian mystery with an admirable heroine.

The Ruby in the Smoke is part of a series. The next books are:

The Shadow in the North
The Tiger in the Well
The Tin Princess

Rating: 3/5

p.s. - Graduation was just lovely. :)

Off-topic Post: A Busy Week

2010-04-10T10:34:00.000+03:00

Just thought I’d quickly let you in on what will happening in my boring yet action-packed life. :) Here are the things I've got planned:

Sunday (11th April) – Math test. Yikes! (Yes, we have school on Sunday…while the rest of the world is dozing.)

Monday (12th April) – Australia Open Day. I’ll be going to apply to several Australian universities, because my dream is to go there and re-unite with a couple of my cousins and long-lost friends.

Wednesday (14th April) – In a dazzling, purple-lit ballroom, my classmates and I will be graduating! Rehearsals tomorrow.

Friday (16th April) – Last but definitely not least, this day is my birthday! I’ll be finally turning 18, along with my awesome twin brother. Looking forward to this. ;)

I’ll be lucky to get at least one book that I’m reading finished (which is currently Skin and Other Stories by Roald Dahl and Everlost by Neal Shusterman). I’ve gotten about four review pre-written though, but I still haven’t gotten around to reviewing Alice in Wonderland and Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, which was supposed to be all done by this week. I am so disorganized!

Anyway, hope everyone else had a wonderful week! Anything special happening for you next week?

Have a great day!

p.s. - Isn't this picture completely and utterly awesome?!? Clicking on it will direct you to its source!

Movie review: Shutter Island (2010)

2010-04-09T13:26:00.000+03:00

Some places never let you go.

(Warning: major spoilers from third paragraph onwards!)

It’s 1954. Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio), a U.S. Federal Marshal, and his partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) are assigned to find a missing patient who has recently escaped from the mental asylum located in Shutter Island, which houses the criminally insane and isolates them from the rest of the world. It’s not long before Teddy realizes while hunting for the patient that the place holds some dark and dangerous secrets, and that once you’re inside the gates of Shutter Island, there is no escape.

First, let’s get the basics out of the way: the film is directed by Martin Scorsese and the cast includes: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley and Michelle Williams. It’s an adaptation of the book Shutter Island by the popular novelist Dennis Lehane (which I unfortunately haven’t read). I’ve been waiting to see this though for a long time; I’m a sucker for psychological mysteries, even though I get creeped out afterwards. It was a weekday, so me and my brother practically had the whole theatre to ourselves. :) What I learnt was that this wasn’t a simple story with a single, clear-cut twist but one that was complex and when looked at in different angles, was a whole different experience.

(Warning: major spoilers ahead!)

People who watched the trailer would go in expecting to find out about who was the missing patient, and be disappointed big-time when the first twist is revealed. I know I was. As in most psychological thrillers, the root issue lies within the protagonist himself (a few examples include The Sixth Sense, Memento, The Others and Fight Club). So it was unoriginal. And secondly, the movie made it too obvious. We see that Teddy/Andrew, for a marshal, is much too emotionally unstable right from the beginning – he is seasick, loses his temper too easily, and is traumatized by his past as a war veteran and a widower. He reveals in the first few minutes that he feels like he’s been in Shutter Island before, and they even mention the 67th patient in the trailer! However, the movie did redeem itself in the final scene, and that changed everything.

In the closing scene of the film, Teddy/Andrew says something like this: “Is it better to live as a monster, or die as a good man?” And then they show the orderlies closing in on Teddy/Andrew and ushering him towards the lighthouse. This adds another twist: so was Teddy’s story true after all? That all the Nazi experiments were actually taking place and they had in fact brainwashed him into thinking that he was insane, and that they were taking him to the lighthouse to have him lobotomized because he wouldn’t play along with them? Upon rethinking of the events in the film, this whole new angle does have evidence. For example, why would Dr. Cawley tell Teddy that his partner didn’t exist, when in fact he had been talking to a real human being, even if ‘Chuck’ been part of some game? Ben Kingsley’s ambiguous acting is admirable here.

So, overall, a great film with brilliant execution, atmosphere, story and acting. I’ll have to watch this again some time!

Rating: 4/5

Watch the trailer here.

Visit the official website here.

On-topic post: Book Blogger Hop!

2010-04-05T22:14:00.000+03:00

This is a lovely weekly event at Crazy for Books where bloggers and readers can find each other and share their love for books! It sounded like a great idea, so I decided to join. :) I'll start my (long) blog browsing session tomorrow, there's nothing more exciting than finding someone who shares the same interests as you do!

If you're interested, click on the button above, and get hopping!

Have a great day. ;)

Book review: Falling by Christopher Pike

2010-04-05T19:37:00.001+03:00

He still loved Amy . . . and he hated her more than words could say.

Matt Connor’s world broke down the day Amy, his girlfriend, left him to get back together with her ex-boyfriend. In a state of agony, Matt formulates a meticulous plan to get her attention – he would fake his death to make Amy pay.

Meanwhile, FBI agent Kelly Feinman is assigned to hunt down a violent serial killer named ‘the Acid Man’. Kelly suffers from a failing marriage that is on the verge of divorce. Her husband Tony has recently disclosed his extramarital affair with another woman.

By a twist of fate, the lives of Matt and Kelly intertwine, and they find solace in each other.

Kirkus reviews says that this is ‘literary crack cocaine’ and I wholeheartedly agree! I have no words to describe the thrilling ride this book has taken me through – other than saying it brings together a roller-coaster of events and a Ferris wheel of emotions. Christopher Pike a.k.a. Kevin McFadden has created a thriller, this time without a drop of the otherworldly, yet still manages to be one of the most entertaining and gripping books I have ever read.

The premise itself is fascinating and the writing is spot-on, sharp and snappy. I don’t think a word is wasted. And we have a plot with clever twists and turns that make the book unpredictable. And then we have the characters. Christopher Pike creates such compelling characters, each one three-dimensional and utterly realistic to the point that you genuinely care about what happens to them, and the hurt and the betrayal feels so real. The book avoids labels, because essentially the most meaningful relationship we find is the unlikely friendship between a criminal and an FBI agent. And I love how it’s not a traditional hero-villain story. In fact, who is the villain here? Is it Matt, whose infatuation for Amy leads to the kidnapping of a child? Is it the Acid Man, who lures in cheating wives and pours acid down their hearts? Or is it Amy, a cold and heartless female who manipulates innocent men? One thing I’ve learnt is that there are no real villains; they are all just victims of corruption. Evil is the root of all evil.

All in all, Falling is an exhilarating and thought-provoking adventure, well-written, with a finale that is shocking but sweet and satisfactory. I don’t think I will ever be able to get over this incredible masterpiece. :)

Rating: 5/5

Links:

Learn more about the book Falling, or purchase from Amazon.com here.

Book review: Just After Sunset by Stephen King

2010-03-26T17:50:00.001+03:00

This book contains a fabulous collection of short stories, all of which have been compiled from Stephen King’s previous publications in various magazines, with the exception of N. Not all of them are pure horror though, some are more action, and a few are quite though-provoking. I enjoyed each one of them, so I decided to give my thoughts on each. There are 13 in all, with an introduction and a set of notes at the end.

Willa – David is at the train station when he discovers that his fiancée, Willa, has disappeared. This is a story that is full of atmosphere and very character-driven, predictable yet chilling. I felt so much for the characters in the end. Stephen King’s ability to make heartfelt characters is evident in this and many other stories.
The Gingerbread Girl – After losing her only child, Em picks up the habit of running, which leads her to be imprisoned in the house of a psychopath. This is one of my favorites. The action and suspense never stops!
Harvey's Dream – A dream causes a string of terrifying revelations. Although this is a story based on a single situation, Harvey’s dream, it was still an absorbing read.
Rest Stop – John is about to bring out his inner hero when he witnesses a man abusing a woman at a rest stop. A compelling story about bravery.
Stationary Bike – Richard embarks on a frightening journey when he starts playing a pretend game to help him lose weight. This one was one hell of a ride, and I enjoyed every second of it! How many of us are living in our own delusional little world without even realizing it?!
The Things They Left Behind – Another heartfelt story, this one is about the 9/11 attacks.
Graduation Afternoon – A story about an impending disaster in Manhattan. Though interesting, not one of the best.
N. – A psychiatrist is disturbed by the troubles of his patient, whom he refers to as N. What a fascinating story about obsessive compulsive disorder! Stephen King delves into the thought processes of insanity, and just how easy it is to slip into psychosis. N. was adapted as a short, 25-episode video series that can be viewed online here.
The Cat from Hell – A graphic, bloody tale of horror about a cat out to get revenge. Very enjoyable.
The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates – A very short story about a woman getting a telephone call from her dead husband. Although it was touching, I didn’t find the ending all that satisfying.
Mute – In this extraordinary story, a man goes to confession and relates an incident in which he picked up a hitchhiker that was both deaf and mute. Another very enjoyable one.
Ayana – A little girl heals a bedridden man with cancer. There was one line in the story that I found quite remarkable: “The medical definition of miracle is misdiagnosis.”
A Very Tight Place – A delightful little tale of survival about a man who has to escape from, as the title aptly says, ‘a very tight place’. Although the premise is terrifying (and this is not a story to be read if easily grossed out), I found it to be incredibly humorous! Grunwald is such a comical character and there are some very funny phrases in the story. Definitely another one of my faves!

Well, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this is a great piece of literary fiction. Very entertaining and highly recommended!

Rating: 4/5

Links:

Visit the author website here.

--or--
Learn more about the book Just After Sunset, or purchase from Amazon.com here.

Movie review: Post Grad (2009)

2010-03-20T18:45:00.000+03:00

Now what?

After having just earned her degree, Ryden Malby (Alexis Bledel) is super-excited about starting a new life. Everything she had done so far had gone according to plan: get good grades in high school (check), get a college scholarship (check), and then get good grades in college to keep the scholarship (check!). Now she just needs to do one thing: get a job at Happerman & Browning, a publishing company, and her life is set. But when Jessica Bard, her own ‘personal Darth Vader’, gets the job, she ends up living a graduate’s worst nightmare, back at her parents’ house and back with her bizarre family members.

Let me tell you outright: this is not an uplifting movie for people who have just graduated from college, nor does it give you any kind of motivational power to move on with what you’re doing. Although the name implies it, this is more about a glimpse of Ryden’s life and her dysfunctional family. I would call it ‘unrealistic comedy’. So, I was disappointed on that aspect. However, if you keep this in mind, and not expect anything too deep, the movie’s not half bad.

Alexis Bledel is charming as Ryden Malby, who is an incredibly Rory-like character. Obviously fans of Gilmore Girls and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants will love her in this role. I thought she was great. She really captured the personality of a determined, career-oriented girl, the kind who flies through life like a butterfly and always has the right thing to say at a job interview. But, unfortunately, life is full of disappointments, and just when you think you’re done with one big portion of your life, you realize there’s more to come. In Ryden’s case, she never could have imagined she would be in such a humiliating situation – jobless after all that hard work in college! Also, her love interests come in the form of Adam (Zach Gilford), who had been her best friend since freshman year, and David (Rodrigo Santoro), her Brazilian neighbor. But the former relationship was too vague while the latter went nowhere!

Her quirky family begins to play a big part in her life, and I have to say that though it was a bit over-the-top, it made up the funniest parts of the movie. Michael Keaton, who played her dad, was funny but I felt he was overacting in a few places. Carol Burnett however, was the funniest in my opinion. She plays Grandma Maureen who’s a bit too preoccupied in her coffin make.

Some scenes which I particularly liked include: The beginning in which the opening credits and the opening scene were tied together with an interactive myspace page, and the boxcar derby race in which her (oddball of a) little brother participates (this was just funny).

So altogether, a couple of great moments, but I can’t help thinking what a great movie this could have been if only they hadn’t focused on the family as much as they did. Post Grad was not what I expected – it was just a crazy comedy.

Rating: 3/5

Watch the trailer here.

Off-topic Post: Dustland

2010-03-19T10:38:00.000+03:00

My first off-topic post! Because I can never stay on topic for too long.

I'm not sure if you know this, but I live in the Middle East. And one of the things you have to endure when you do so is the recurrent dust storms. Now, I know that no one likes the powder stinging their eyes or the dust particles flying into your mouth as you speak, but I secretly love dust storms. They are incredible. And it looks like there's going to be one today!

The last time we had one, dust was everywhere. On cars, on pavements, collected in corners, and it was fantastic. The air was a wonderfully deep orange, and it's like you're looking at the world through some sepia-colored lenses. And when the wind kicks in and starts to whistle like helpless ghosts, it's just lovely.

So yeah, I can't wait to go out today!

Oh, and the title refers to the song A Dustland Fairytale by the Killers. I know the song's nothing about dust storms, but it just makes me think of it. :)

The wind's howling now, and I'm getting more excited than I should be!

To anyone out there reading this (yes, you!)...anything you secretly love?

Movie review: Bandslam (2009)

2010-03-13T19:21:00.000+03:00

Will Burton (Gaelan Connell) is a distressed teen with a passion for music who is often bullied in school. He frequently sends messages to David Bowie, his role model, dealing with problems in his life and his music. When Will and his mom (Lisa Kudrow) move to New Jersey, Will is determined to start a new life, putting his shamed past behind him. At his new high school, he meets eccentric Sa5m (Vanessa Hudgens), whose name consists of a 5 that is silent, and Charlotte (Alyson Michalka), a popular senior. Together, they form a band to compete in a musical contest in the hope of winning a recording contract.

If you glance at the name, the trailer and the poster for this movie, you see a new actor (Gaelan Connell), Vanessa Hudgens, and another blonde-haired Disney star (Alyson Michalka) slamming their guitars and getting ready for a heart-thrumming musical battle. And it makes you think that this is some follow-up to yet another giddy High School Musical/Camp Rock-style Disney movie for teeny-boppers everywhere. But it’s not. This movie had unfortunately become a victim of mismarketing. Sure, it’s a comedy aimed at younger teens, but it’s also a heart-warming, impressive tale with some great moments.

In Bandslam, we’ve got some teenage relationships that are a bit more positively portrayed when compared to other conventional movies. For example, I love how Will is close to his mother and confides in her despite occasional arguments. She also supports him no matter what. And it’s about time we had a popular cheerleader in a movie that is not totally snobbish and arrogant but with some heart. There’s also some very emotional moments and character revelations. The scene where Will has to directly confront with all the people taunting him was one of the most touching moments for me. But one character that could have been more developed was Sa5m. Other than some flashbacks to her musical past, the movie gives little insight as to why she mostly stays to herself and avoids people.

Overall, Gaelan Connell, Alyson Michalka and Lisa Kudrow were exceptional in their acting; Vanessa Hudgens was good but not great. Charlie Saxton who plays Bug and Ryan Donowho who plays a sassy drummer were two other memorable characters. The movie also had some genuine laugh-out-loud moments and funny scenarios. I have to say that the only part that reeked of High School Musical-ity was their final performance on stage at the competition. I think that was because of Vanessa Hugdens’ singing.

Bandslam is not just about a group of teens trying to win a competition. It’s more about the characters facing their difficulties, especially Will’s battle with boyhood and bullying. I enjoyed it.

Rating: 4/5

The trailer can be found here.

Book review: At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks

2010-03-05T20:12:00.000+03:00

Jeremy Marsh, a 42-year-old New Yorker, is about to get married to Lexie Darnell. Lexie is already pregnant with his child. Jeremy has agreed to settle in the small town of Boone Creek, North Carolina at his wife’s request, and the two are planning the perfect wedding. But the people of Boone Creek are strange, some are unwelcoming, and most have lurking secrets of their own. And when Jeremy one day receives a puzzling e-mail from an unknown sender, he knows that someone out there is looking to wreck their relationship.

I picked up this book unaware that this was a sequel. After reading about three-quarters into the story, I spotted a line on the back that said: “…comes this astonishing story of everlasting love, as the tale begun in True Believer continues…” Oh well. I think that accounted for the strange story of how Jeremy and Lexie met at a cemetery: Jeremy, a newspaper columnist that debunks the supernatural, had planned to report the unexplained lights that appear on foggy nights at a cemetery when he meets Lexie, who tells him she believes they were the ghosts of her dead parents. Jeremy then instantly fell for her. I thought this was a tad bit bizarre.

The book was a fast and engrossing read, with the writing smooth and consistent. The detailed descriptions of pregnancy and childbirth that come later on in the book, together with the contemplative nature of Jeremy as he reflects upon his relationship were interesting. At the heart of the story is the mystery of who sent those e-mails, but as soon as the person was uncovered, that bit of the story is then completely neglected. I would have liked to see a better explanation of the motives and a better confrontation.

The character of Jeremy was well-built, but Lexie was very annoying at first because all she did was nitpick at Jeremy’s actions. I just couldn’t sense the spark in their relationship. I also thought that Doris, Lexie’s grandmother, came across as a furtive character with a lot of secrets, but Nicholas Sparks has kept us in the dark on that one. And I wasn’t too fond of the supernatural aspects either, what with her being able to predict the sex of babies and the mystical lights. I did like the ending, and though it was predictable it was touching.

Overall, don’t expect a masterpiece. Although the writing is great, the plot left much to be desired. Also, I wouldn’t read this if you’re pregnant.

Rating: 3/5

Movie review: Whip It (2009)

2010-02-28T14:10:00.000+03:00

Be your own hero.

Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) is a 17-year-old from a small town in Texas. Her conservative, constricting mother (Marcia Gay Harden) is signing her up for endless beauty pageants in the hope of her becoming recognized while still young. But when Bliss catches a glimpse of the rough, tough world of roller derby, she decides to join without her mother knowing. So at night, sweet, timid Bliss become ‘Babe Ruthless’, a fierce and competitive roller derby player. Having finally found her niche, Bliss become determined to do what she loves, even if it upsets her mother and her best friend.

This movie’s all about independence and girl power. Although most of the story was very predictable (as you would expect from a teen girl sports movie), there were also some bits thrown in that were new (such as the outcome of the romance and the roller derby finals), which was refreshing. The acting was great, but some of the character’s reactions were a little unbelievable, and I would have liked to see more character development between Bliss and her parents, and her love interest. For a first time director, Drew Barrymore did not do too bad of a job.

The main thing I loved about Whip It was the character of Bliss. It was a delight to watch her progress from a shy teen trapped in her mother’s old dreams, to a strong, more liberated individual by the end of it. It reminded me a lot of Bend it Like Beckham, since the two have the same concept of a sporty coming-of-age story. It is in fact Bend it Like Beckam, but without the cultural references and with a few minor plot tweaks!

And I have to mention the great underwater love scene with Bliss and Oliver! It was beautifully done and very creative. Two thumbs up for Ellen Page and Landon Pigg for this piece of cinematic artwork!

I was planning to see this expecting a light-hearted, uplifting comedy and I got exactly that, although I thought fewer clichés would have made it a more touching story. Altogether the film certainly was quirky, funny and packed with action. It’s not one of my favorites, but it was an enjoyable two hours. Besides, I am now fascinated by roller derby! Time to take out my old skates out too . . .

Rating: 3.5/5

Watch the trailer here.

Book review: What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson

2010-02-19T18:37:00.001+03:00

The end is just the beginning.

(This synopsis contains minor spoilers – nothing drastic, and it definitely does not give away the ending. If you want, skip the synopsis and head straight for the second paragraph.)

Chris Neilson is killed in a car crash and discovers there is life after death. In a surreal world referred to as ‘Summerland’, he is guided by Albert, his long-dead cousin, and taught about its ways. When Chris learns that his wife had committed suicide, he decides to embark on the dark, dangerous journey to the lower realms of Hell in an attempt to rescue her, risking his own sanity for eternity.

I primarily picked up this book because it was about death and because it was fictional. Death and mortality has to be one of the most ignored facts because we simply don’t like to remind ourselves that inevitably one day, we will depart from our materialistic existence on earth and move onto another stage all by ourselves. It had to be fictional because I wanted it to be readable, easy to understand and with a storyline to make it memorable. In the book’s introduction Richard Matheson confides in us the amount of research he did to compile the facts of afterlife which became the backbone of the story, even providing the reader with an extensive bibliography at the end. So I thought that this was as realistic as a fictional book about death got!

Our protagonist, Chris Neilson, is about to find out first-hand what happens to us after death. The plot is straightforward and simple, and not as important as the descriptions that portray afterlife. I found the explanations of the etheric double, the silver cord, and the spheres of existence to be fascinating. Richard Matheson is able to give piles of information without getting too technical. The other aspect that intrigued me was his take on how much we are limited by our beliefs and ignorance, and how we on earth are trapped by only what feels like reality. One sentence in the book still sticks with me: “The mind is all.”

Above all the book contains a tragic love story that was so emotionally distressing that by the end it had me in tears. Chris’ devotion to his wife Ann is one that surpasses all boundaries of life on earth. I have to say that no other book has been more touching, more eye-opening than this one. Read this book and it will scare you away from suicide and the word ‘soul mate’ will take on a whole new meaning. But most importantly, it will provide you insight on the mystery of afterlife and help you lose your fear of death. I know it did for me.

Rating: 4.5/5

Links:
Visit the Wikipedia page for Richard Matheson here.
Read Richard Matheson's bibliography here.

--or--
Learn more about the book What Dreams May Come, or purchase from Amazon.com here.

Movie review: According to Greta (2009)

2010-02-14T19:55:00.000+03:00

I wanna die

I wanna die
Down south Louisiana

And the gray evening sky

These are the lyrics of the song in the opening credits of According to Greta, an independent film starring (and executively produced by) Hilary Duff.

Greta (Hilary Duff) is a rebellious, disrespectful 17-year-old sent off to live with her grandparents for the summer in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, while her unforgiving mother (Melissa Leo) tries to fix her own marriage. Though young, Greta is obsessed with death and carries a notebook around to help her compile a list of different ways to commit suicide, which she plans to do before turning 18. She is convinced that this would be the outcome of her future, until she meets Julie (Evan Ross), an optimistic young man who had once been in prison, who, along with her grandparents, teach her what life is worth living for.

I’m so glad I discovered this absolute gem of a movie! Hilary Duff exceeds expectations in terms of her acting, and the rest of the cast is delightful. Excellent directing by Nancy Bardawil as well. The character of Greta is not unlike many other teens – she is neglected and frequently misunderstood by the people around her, and tragic events that occurred at such an early stage in her life have caused her to suppress her pain by hiding it underneath a tough demeanour. There are many good reasons why she has become the complex person she is, and these are uncovered in the movie little by little. This is not your typical fun, flirty Hilary Duff flick, but a dark, even depressing, film with the central theme of teen suicide and torment.

Add to that the beautiful seaside scenery of the beach town Ocean Grove, the lovely soundtrack, and the intertwined story of Greta’s budding relationship with Julie and subsequently falling in love (I thought Evan Ross and Hilary Duff made such a cute couple!), and you’ve got a sweet and touching tale. According to Greta is ultimately about self-discovery, with an end that tugs at the heartstrings.

Rating: 4/5

Watch the trailer here.

And Happy V-Day for all the lovers! :)

Book review: Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

2010-02-13T15:22:00.000+03:00

I finally found a copy of one of Judy Blume’s adult novels, Summer Sisters. She was one of my favourite authors as a teen, so naturally I was curious about her stories for grown-ups. Summer Sisters recounts the tale of Caitlin Somers and Victoria Leonard and their lives together and apart through several summers from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Victoria, ‘Vix’, couldn’t believe her luck the day Caitlin chose her to accompany her to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer. The two are opposites: Vix comes from a poor family, with a bitter but hard-working mother, and her little brother Nathan is in a wheelchair. Daring Caitlin, on the other hand, is from a well-to-do background with divorced parents. Despite their differences, they are instantly attracted to one another. In the years that follow they become ‘Vixen and Cassandra’, summer sisters forever, sharing secrets and being the best of friends.

It’s interesting to note that Judy Blume fell back to her comfort zone of writing about the lives of Vix and Caitlyn as teens for about three-quarters of the book, although their adventures with boys and their relationship with each other stepped up to being much more explicit. She captures the ups and downs of an unconventional companionship skilfully – even when Caitlin toured the world flitting from one fling to another while Vix concentrated on her degree at Harvard, finding it hard to get over her first love, they were never able to get over each other, even when they both betrayed each other. And Judy Blume’s writing is splendid, it just flows through you, making this a fast-paced and entertaining read. However, I did expect a more meaningful novel, not just a novel full of drama. I think on that point, Judy Blume fell short. It frustrated me that she never paid attention to anything other than the physical aspects of the relationships many of the characters had.

All negativities aside, I must admit Summer Sisters was a gripping, albeit a light, read. Great if you’re looking for something to read on a trip or for the weekend. A true summer story! This book is sure to keep you entertained from start to finish.

Rating: 3.5/5

Read how Summer Sisters came to be here.

Book review: The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

2010-02-09T20:48:00.000+03:00

Ronnie Miller is just about to turn eighteen when she is sent off with her 10-year-old brother Jonah to North Carolina for the summer where her father resides. Ronnie has never forgiven her father for walking out on the family three years ago, chasing after his dream of becoming a concert pianist, leaving her and her brother behind. She is determined to be difficult and resolves to spend as much time away from her father. Steve, Ronnie's dad, however, is just as determined to change her daughter's views about him and let her look past the regrets to see him for the devoted father he was.

I thought this was a skilful work of fiction. Nicholas Sparks has not only written a teenage romance novel, but has weaved in an intricate story of a beautiful father-daughter relationship and the maturing of a young girl into an adult. At first, I hated the character of Ronnie Miller. She seemed like your typical ignorant teenage girl. By the end of the book she was transformed, not only likeable but admirable. Will Blakelee, the popular volleyball player who falls in love with Ronnie, as sweet as he is, I would've liked a more distinctive personality. The character of Marcus, however, is something new, because he is depicted as a teenage sociopath, cunning and manipulative. His destructive relationship with Blaze is appalling but not uncommon in real life. Steve's journey of self-discovery, his search for the presence of God and his intense desire to show his children he is worthy of their time is so beautifully portrayed that in the end you are heartbroken.

For the most part, the book was predictable, but that won't stop you from being affected. The book was developed after the screenplay was written, and this becomes obvious because there's many typical 'movie moments' (boy 'crashes' into girl, dramatic confrontations, bad boy gets busted, and complete resolution of all events in the story). I hope the movie is just as good. Altogether, this was a simple story told in a complex narrative and there's lots of emotional turmoil. If you're in the mood for a heartrending tragedy, this one's for you.

Rating: 4/5

See the movie trailer for The Last Song here.

Movie review: Avatar 3D (2009)

2010-02-06T13:51:00.000+03:00

Enter the world.

I was finally able to see this last night, and I thought to myself, why did I wait this long?! Because this movie is an absolute feast for the imagination. It chronicles the journey of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) who is sent off to Pandora, a world inhabited by a tall, blue, highly spiritual humanoid species in search of a valuable substance. Jake is paralysed from the waist down, and is promised sensation in his lower limbs in return for deceiving the species (the Na’vis) and getting information. To do this, he disguises as an avatar using connections in the brain to interact with the Na'vis. But the world of Pandora becomes so overwhelmingly real to Jake that soon he begins to perceive his human life as the dream.

Actually, the plot isolated is nothing special, just your typical science fiction story, ridden with clichés and very predictable. Which was why I wasn't attracted to it in the first place, science fiction is really not my thing, and, to be honest, I was wary of the hype.

The central working point for this movie is its three-dimensional technical aspect and special effects. The surrealistic, jungle world (not to mention extremely expensive!) that James Cameron has created is so utterly breathtaking. You have to be there to watch it and live it, and it will be an unforgettable experience. An exotic floral and animal kingdom, coupled with lush greenery and an alien race so fascinating, makes for a compelling three hours full of action, romance, distress and awe.

Keep in mind that this is just a teaser for what's in store for moviegoers in the future. Constructing realities that connects with your senses in such a way that for a moment you feel that this is true and real and really exists. Needless to say, it takes movie-watching to a whole new level.

Two words: Visually. Stunning.

Rating: 5/5

Watch the trailer here.

Book review: Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk

2010-02-05T08:08:00.000+03:00

When I read the synopsis for this book, I thought it was going to be a good read. Shannon McFarland is a model who has everything - beauty, a career, a best friend and a great boyfriend. Or was one. Because after she got shot in the face, she becomes an ugly, jawless monster who cannot speak and has to wear a veil over her scars. Her whole world has broken down.

But wow. I can't decide as to whether I loved this book or hated it. Let's start off with Chuck Palahniuk's writing style - fun to write but not fun to read. It seems like he's just churning out word after random word, spinning paragraph after paragraph with no real substance. The whole book is about the girl having flashbacks at different points in her life before and after her accident, there is no chronological ordering. This can be a little frustrating but I dealt with it by telling myself not to bother remembering what had happened a few pages back. The characters are unsettling and the situations are surreal. During her hospital stay, Shannon meets Brandy Alexander, a man transitioning into a woman whom she befriends. Evie Cottrell, a plus-sized model and Shannon's ex-best friend takes the opportunity to steal all her clothes and sleep with her boyfriend. Shannon's parents are obsessed over the death of their gay son, Shannon's brother. The descriptions are often explicit. And there are some awful, awful puns (for example, the Rhea sisters: Die Rhea, Gon Rhea, Pie Rhea).

Although the terrible writing is hard to ignore, the plot twists blew me away. And this is even after keeping the basis of Fight Club in mind. In the meandering, distorted world of Shannon McFarland, there is nothing you can be sure of. The actual relationships between the characters are revealed very gradually.

The strange philosophical ideas interspersed with the narrative are interesting (sort of). The subject matter of the book - beauty and materialism - is also interesting. Although you feel nothing for the other characters (who are scarier than any other character I've met even in a horror novel) because they act so unnaturally (Shannon's parents sound like robots who know everything about every STD out there), you do feel for Shannon in the end.

Overall, if you're looking for an unpredictable but bizzare novel, and don't cling to every literary device an author puts in, this book is for you. Otherwise, run away from it!

Rating: 2/5

You can find an artistic take on the book here. It is the opening credits of the book if it were made into a movie.

Movie review: Adventureland (2009)

2010-01-30T10:20:00.001+03:00

It was the worst job they ever imagined . . . and the best time of their lives.

After seeing SuperBad, I wanted to see how this one would turn out. Although the style has similarities, this movie is different in that it is more of a romantic "dramedy" and not just made for laughs.

James (Jesse Eisenberg) is anticipating a fun-filled trip to Europe, a graduation present by his parents, when they reveal that his dad got 'transferred' and that they can't afford the trip. On top of that, James will have to get himself a summer job if he wants to attend grad school.

Enter 'Adventureland', a local amusement park managed by a quirky couple, Bobby and Paulette, who hire him right away. The place is sickeningly sweet, with secrets that no one would ever want to know (like that no one ever wins the giant panda, and the truth behind carnival food). He meets some of the other workers: Joel, Mike (Ryan Reynolds) and Em (Kristen Stewart), whom he is instantly attracted to. It turns out that Em has been having a secret affair with one of the co-workers. From that point the movie takes off, a sweet and touching coming-of-age story with excellent acting and an excellent soundtrack.

Everyone played their part well - the characters are well developed and three-dimensional. Although there were bits that were a little unrealistic (like why incredibly popular Lisa P would ever be attracted to James), the thing that makes it believable is the acting. Even Kristen Stewart played the part of a troubled teenager suprisingly well. There's broken friendships, betrayal, romance, blunders and funny moments and above all a heart-warming tale about the challenges of growing up. I can imagine this being nostalgic for someone who grew up in the 80s.

Rating: 4/5

Links:

View the trailer for Adventureland here.

Visit the IMDb page here.

--or--
Learn more about the movie Adventureland, or purchase from Amazon.com here.

Book review: Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson

2010-01-29T08:45:00.002+03:00

Although I already wrote a review for this book on Shelfari, I thought it would be good to do an extended one here as my first review. :)

When I was a kid, Jacqueline Wilson was one of my favorite authors. I was always on the lookout for her books in libraries and bookstores. This book is especially written for teens, and has some themes which I think she's never tackled before, however it still manages to retain Jacqueline's childlike prose (a good thing).

Sylvie, the main character in this book, and Carl have been best friends since they were little. Even at thirteen, they like to get lost in 'Glassworld', an imaginary world where exciting things happen and everything's made of glass. Sylvie has always been in love with Carl, and hopes they marry one day. But Sylvie's about to get her heart broken, because Carl is different...

This book did not disappoint! Sylvie as a character is so lovable, and it's easy to empathize with Carl. You may or may not be shocked at why Carl is keeping his distance from Sylvie. Even outrageous Miranda, the girl Sylvie befriends, won my heart over. I laughed out loud at several points in the book, but I also got my heart broken in the end. It's one of those books you'd read again just to get inside Sylvie's thoughts. One of the things that struck me most was how much she just loved Carl in the most purest sort of way. I'd have liked for something more to be revealed about Carl later on, the ending was a bit ambiguous, but I think Jacqueline did that on purpose because it's still a sensitive subject. All in all, a captivating read!

Rating: 4/5

Links:

Visit Jacqueline Wilson's website here.

--or--
Learn more about the book Kiss, or purchase from Amazon.com here.

About this blog

2010-01-28T21:44:00.001+03:00

Hello, and welcome. I'll be using this blog to write about things I've just read or seen. It may not be the latest, or the most popular, just whatever I can get my hands onto. As long as the story is well told, I'll pretty much enjoy it. I especially enjoy contemporary fiction. My goal is simply to explore and discover. Hope you like it. :)